Detroit rebooted: Brad Holmes picks Blake Miller, trades up for Derrick Moore to spark a comeback
Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images Brad Holmes kicked off the 2026 draft by picking Blake Miller at No. 17, a tackle out of Clemson who started 54 games and played a school-record 3,778 offensive snaps. Later, he moved up from No.
50 to No. 44 to select Derrick Moore, an edge rusher who wrapped up his final season at Michigan with 10 sacks and 10. 5 tackles for loss.
Five of Detroit’s seven picks went towards defence in what was clearly a draft focused on the trenches rather than big names or flashy highlights. The Lions seem intent on getting back to what made them successful in the first place — controlling the line of scrimmage, protecting Jared Goff, and allowing their defence to play aggressively rather than reactively. Blake Miller was the pick Detroit needed to make Miller’s appeal is clear.
With 54 starts and 3,778 snaps at Clemson, he’s exactly the kind of proven player who fits what the Lions need right now. He’s shown he can handle the grind week after week, and that sort of reliability is hard to overlook. The Lions needed immediate help in pass protection, and Miller fits that need without needing time to develop.
Instead of taking a risk on a project tackle, they went with someone who already matches their style—reliable, experienced, and ready to step in from day one. Photo by Steven King/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Holmes shows urgency by trading up for Moore The decision to trade up for Moore was a clear sign of intent from Holmes. Moving from No.