Right Tackle Becomes the Mock Draft Bulls‑Eye
The Detroit Lions keep showing up at No. 17 with an offensive tackle in new mock drafts. The trend is specific now. Right tackle is the target. In a sample of more than 20 mocks, two names dominate over half the projections: Monroe Fraley of Georgia and Blake Miller of Thompson. The NFL board is shifting, and the Detroit Lions Podcast zeroed in on why.
The calculus starts with Detroit’s line configuration. The Lions appear open to moving Penei Sewell to left tackle. That elevates right tackle to a priority. The board dynamics matter too. Colon Proctor is rising. He even appeared in a few mocks to Detroit at 17, but the expectation here is a top‑10 landing because size and movement like that rarely linger.
Monroe Fraley: High-Ceiling Athlete, Light on Reps
Fraley plays left tackle. He moves well. He flashes the traits teams covet in the middle of Round 1. But inexperience shows up. The tape has technique drift. The footwork gets loose. There is some leaning. The start count tells the story. Sixteen starts leaves a gap to bridge at NFL speed. That is the push and pull with Fraley in the 10-to-20 range.
If he lands in Detroit, the upside is obvious. The concern is the learning curve. Daily work against Aidan Hutchinson would speed development, but that is a two-edged sword. There is a real example of how constant domination in practice can dent a young player’s confidence. Cam Wimbley splashed as a rookie, then ran into Joe Thomas and hit a wall. That caution applies broadly. Jeff Okuda felt some of that pressure in Detroit practices too. Fraley can improve, and his athletic profile suggests he will, but the on-ramp needs managing.
Blake Miller: Experienced Power, Plug-and-Play Path
Miller is a right tackle by trade. He is athletic, though not as fluid as Fraley in space. He wins more with power. The experience stands out: 47 starts. The growth from 2024 to 2025 jumps off the film. He sealed the outside more consistently. He found and finished targets at the second level instead of just arriving late. That matters on Sundays.
Because the Lions may slide Sewell to the left side, Miller’s profile fits the immediate need. He can line up at right tackle and start. The floor feels higher, the timeline cleaner. Fraley could be gone before 17. He could also be there. Miller offers a steadier answer if the board breaks that way. Either would address the Detroit Lions’ top offensive priority. The question at 17 is simple: chase Fraley’s ceiling or bank Miller’s readiness while the NFL board churns around Colon Proctor’s rise.
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