2026 Draft Superthread And Draft Prospect Discussion

[YAC]

GAC boys dont like the recent buzz...coming AFTER I put him in my sig mock, of Blake Miller to us at #22...they said some things about him that they "read"...but admitted they have not watched him...but then decided he wouldn't be a guy you could move inside to guard.

I say bullshit...leaving him in my mock. I HAVE watched him. Strong, moves well, polished technique wise...pro ready, plug and play who fits a need, at guard or tackle...high floor, ready to go. At 22, he might not be the absolute BPA...but will be amongst the best players there...and the positional value of a rookie starting tackle...even if we start his career at guard, is off the charts at #22.

Having a guy who can kick out to RT longterm if:

1) Slater isnt ready, so Alt goes left side
2) Slater gets injured, and Alt goes leftsids
3) Alt gets injured
4) They are into the idea of Slater going inside

There are worse ideas....

And forget about Strange...he has played both sides...he can slide over and win his job vs Penning...

You can only mock one guy...I am enamored with the idea of a G/T prospect who can play zone, at #22...the likely available candidates are Lomu, Iheanachor, and Miller. I like them all, but Miller is by far the most ready, highest floor of the 3. So he is my #22 for now...and I suspect, in my final mock.

It wouldn't really be a reach pick. His consensus mock as to this week? Pick 23. Some of his higher pundit mocks:
-17th Phil Perry, NBC Sports
-17th Sayre Bedinger, NFL Spin Zone
-17th Mike Band, NFL.com
-19th Nick Baumbardner, The Athletic
-19th Daire Carragher, PFF

You are right: positional value as a tackle adds to the pick.

That all said I know very little about Miller as a player.

[CanadianBoltFan]

I want Miller to start at Guard Day 1 if I take him in the first. Put him at LG and build a pass protection wall on Herbie’s blind side. My priority 1.
Pipkins and Salyer aren’t in the same class. Been reading here how the new system won’t require gap run blockers and Strange provided the proof.
4 years of proven tape at Clemson, about as close to a can’t miss at pick 22 we will ever see.

Miller at guard from day 1 is far from a sure thing. He played all 4 years at RT, and as i just pointed out his game isn't ideal for guard or zone system

I want a proven top 4 guard over the 6th or 7th rated tackle and hope he can adjust to a new position as a rookie, improve in the run game enough, improve in space enough, to play guard in a zone system

Miller is also tall and lean, not ideal for guard either

[Leslie Grossman]

That’s ok, he will be a better pass blocker than anyone available at 55 and I want the tackle flexibility because I am not confident in both Alt and Slater not having another
serious injury.
Reasons exist why only 1 guard is widely mocked in the first and 6 or 7 tackles are.
Also consider this: Of course Jim says Slater is ahead of schedule. He wouldn’t admit he wasn’t if he wasn’t.
Coach speak. He spoke highly of Zion and Bozeman too.

[CanadianBoltFan]

That’s ok, he will be a better pass blocker than anyone available at 55 and I want the tackle flexibility because I am not confident in both Alt and Slater not having another serious injury.
Also considering this: Of course Jim says Slater is ahead of schedule. He wouldn’t admit he wasn’t if he wasn’t.
Coach speak. He spoke highly of Zion and Bozeman too.

Wanting a 3rd good tackle with Alt and Slater coming off injuries isnt the worst thing. They did just bring in Caleb Lomu who is pretty much all tackle....it just might be a bit of a luxury pick with only 5 picks and big needs at LG and Edge

[Leslie Grossman]

Grey Zabel, former TPB forum first round RT candidate Sam Cosmi, and Mitch Morse are all I needed to see. Jeromey Clarey, Teven Jenkins, Robert Gallery, and Fluker to name a few who were better inside.

Can you name me a tackle picked in the first or second who moved inside and was not as good at guard as he was a tackle?
Or anyone besides Pipkins and Salyer

[YAC]

and as i just pointed out his game isn't ideal for guard or zone system

You haven't convinced me his game isn't ideal for guard or zone. Lots of guards in this style of offense are lean.

And Miller's movement metrics are elite. NFL.com accentuates some of his strengths including fluidity to second level and quickness to spot, great pulling ability, agility and speed.

[Bolt4Knob]

They are going to play...at Guard...but also be able to play tackle, if needed long term.

Not sure with his frame he would be a good guard. If Alt or Slater were older and in the last year of deals, makes sense. But I think if the pick is OT - trade back and leverage the position for a team needing OT and the Chargers can trade back, get an OG and another player.

[CanadianBoltFan]

Can you name me a tackle picked in the first or second who moved inside and was not as good at guard as he was a tackle?
Or anyone besides Pipkins and Salyer

Alex Leatherwood. DJ Fluker off the top of my head in seconds...but they were not good at either

Can you name top guards that were drafted as tackle?

Generally if you have a good player at tackle, you keep him at tackle the premium position. The tackles that get moved inside are usually struggling at tackle with things like edge speed. Pretty easy list of guys who were moved inside to salvage careers that could not cut it at tackle

Trevor Penning
Mekhi Becton
Evan Neal
Robert Gallery

Conclusion...if you have a good player at tackle...you keep him there.

Also as i keep pointing out, some tackles have better versatility, playing style, body type than Miller that is ideal for guard. Miller's body type, pass blocking style, and short comings in the run game line up better at tackle. Of all the tackles like Fano and Dunker that we hear might move inside...Miller is never in that conversation.

Not every tackle is a fit for guard, which is why i said that is an overblown assumption

[Jack Burton]

Alex Leatherwood. DJ Fluker off the top of my head in seconds...but they were not good at either

Can you name top guards that were drafted as tackle?

Generally if you have a good player at tackle, you keep him at tackle the premium position. The tackles that get moved inside are usually struggling at tackle with things like edge speed. Pretty easy list of guys who were moved inside to salvage careers that could not cut it at tackle

Trevor Penning
Mekhi Becton
Evan Neal
Robert Gallery

Conclusion...if you have a good player at tackle...you keep him there.

Also as i keep pointing out, some tackles have better versatility, playing style, body type than Miller that is ideal for guard. Miller's body type, pass blocking style, and short comings in the run game line up better at tackle. Of all the tackles like Fano and Dunker that we hear might move inside...Miller is never in that conversation.

Not every tackle is a fit for guard, which is why i said that is an overblown assumption

Yeah, I’ve never heard Miller in that convo. He is considered an immediate starter at RT.
I’ve only heard Fano and Dunker.

I see if Fano is there you would take him and he’s your swing if you need him to play OT. I just will be amazed if he gets to 22.

[CanadianBoltFan]

You haven't convinced me his game isn't ideal for guard or zone. Lots of guards in this style of offense are lean.

And Miller's movement metrics are elite. NFL.com accentuates some of his strengths including fluidity to second level and quickness to spot, great pulling ability, agility and speed.

Can you give me a draft source from anywhere that groups Miller with the Fanos or Dunkers to move inside?

Miller has good agility in pass blocking yes, but he has been known to struggle run blocking in space

Here is a quote I found. Miller doesnt sound ideal to move to guard but not impossible

Draft Projections: He is considered a "pure" tackle prospect who may struggle inside due to his height and upright stance. However, his technique, such as his hand usage and ability to mirror defenders, provides him with a solid foundation to adapt to different positions.

But i ask you guys....why do you want a major guard project with our first round pick??

I would way rather take an EDGE stud at 22 or trade down for a really good GUARD like Bisontis. Our first round pick does not seem like a time to experiment.

Now if FANO drops to 22 that is a different matter and I run the pick in. But Fano is the #1 tackle on the ranking I am looking at right now, Miller is #6 tackle. But these 2 players are not the same.

I am just not down with Blake Miller at 22...the 6th best tackle you hope can play guard. I don't think Joe will make that pick either

[DerwinBosa]

Zack Martin, Joel Bitonio, and Tyler Smith were offensive tackles in college who moved inside to guard in the NFL. Leonard Davis was taken second overall by the Cardinals in the 2001 NFL Draft, struggled as an offensive tackle in the pros, and then had a successful move inside to guard for three very good years with the Dallas Cowboys. Brandon Scherff was mostly an offensive tackle in college and ended up as the fifth overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. He played guard for the Redskins and Jaguars over 10 NFL seasons, with an All-Pro season in 2020.

An offensive tackle in college making a successful transition to guard in the NFL is not uncommon.

[YAC]

Miller has good agility in pass blocking yes, but he has been known to struggle run blocking in space

Different scouts say very different things about the same player.

The analyst I quoted from was the respected Lance Zierlein at NFL.com. Here were the noted strengths:

• Possesses long arms, big hands and quick feet.
• Fluid and accurate working to linebackers on combo blocks.
• Snap quickness beats defender’s leverage on play-side and back-side zone blocks.
• More frame-striker than body-catcher on angle blocks.
• Able to pull across formation with timing to land a blow.
• Springs into pass sets with a long initial kick slide.
• High awareness to twists and games, with pitcher/catcher timing on pass-offs.
• Feet stay active and slide to mirror rush to the top.
• Scrambles and recovers thanks to above-average agility.
• Showed strong speed and explosiveness at pro day.