NFL Draft Insider Says Lions Nailed It — Here’s Why Blake Miller and Derrick Moore Are Perfect Fits

Lions fans questioning the Blake Miller pick at 17 need to relax. NFL Stock Exchange co-host Trevor Sikkema joined the Woodward Heavyweights to break down why Miller’s nastiness and football IQ make him an instant starter, why Derrick Moore’s pass rush upside was worth the trade-up, and how Detroit stacked up against the rest of the NFC North.

Blake Miller Is Exactly What Detroit Needed — Stop Overthinking It

Some Lions fans wanted Monroe Freeling. Some wanted the athletic upside, the left tackle potential, the idea of Penei Sewell going down as the greatest right tackle ever. Trevor Sikkema gets it. But he’s here to tell you Blake Miller was the right call.

The guy has 54 starts at right tackle for Clemson. He’s not a project. He’s not a developmental piece. He’s a day one starter who lets Sewell slide to left tackle and locks down the right side immediately. That’s not a consolation prize — that’s a first-round pick doing exactly what first-round picks are supposed to do.

Sikkema’s favorite thing about Miller? The demeanor. He told a story about Miller’s last play of his high school career: the kid engaged a defensive lineman, kept his legs churning, and drove him not just to the sideline — past the bench, all the way to the fence. That’s the mentality he plays with every snap.

“Is he the strongest offensive lineman in the world? No, but that’s the demeanor in which he plays.”

His hands are patient. His balance is excellent. He completely shut down Dylan Stewart — a guy who could go top three in next year’s draft. Yes, Stewart was banged up, but Miller was ready for that challenge and dominated it anyway.

The knock? He needs to get stronger in the lower half. Anchoring against power rushers, handling the bull rush — that’s the development area. But the punch timing, the placement, the long arms? All there. Get the body a little denser and you’re looking at a rock-solid right tackle for years.

Derrick Moore Might Start — But It Depends on How They Use Hutchinson

The Derrick Moore pick surprised some people. Not because Moore isn’t talented — his pass rush win percentage over the last two seasons was above 20%, one of the highest in his class. The surprise was that the Lions traded up to get him when guys like Zion Young and Gabe Ikard were still on the board.

Sikkema’s read: Detroit was scared of Baltimore. Jesse Minter knows Moore from his time at Miami, and the Lions weren’t going to risk their guy getting snatched. So they pulled the trigger.

Here’s where it gets interesting. Moore is at his best as a stand-up outside linebacker rushing from a wide seven or wide nine alignment. He’s not a hand-in-the-dirt five technique. That’s fine — unless you want Aidan Hutchinson playing that same role.

If the Lions want Hutchinson closer to the line of scrimmage with a heavier-handed guy like DJ Wonnum on the other side, Moore becomes more of a designated pass rusher in rotation. But if they’re cool with two stand-up outside linebacker types, Moore could absolutely start opposite Hutch.

Either way, the pass rush upside is real. This wasn’t Brad Holmes’s usual profile — he normally goes for the bigger, run-stopping edge — but the Lions clearly heard the criticism about not getting Hutchinson real help. Moore is the response.

Jimmy Rolder Is a Special Teamer. That’s Fine.

Let’s keep it real about the Michigan linebacker. Jimmy Rolder is a smart player, an instinctual tackler, and he feels the run well. But he’s a one-year starter for a reason: he doesn’t have the length or stride to cover ground in the NFL.

Sikkema called it a high floor, low ceiling pick. You’re getting a reliable depth piece who’s going to make plays on special teams. In the fourth round, that’s solid value. Don’t expect him to start, but don’t be surprised when he’s flying down on kickoffs making tackles either.

The Ruben Bain That Got Away

Detroit fans know the pain. Every single pick in the first round, the Woodward crew was chanting Ruben Bain’s name. Brad Holmes didn’t bite. Tampa did — and Sikkema couldn’t be happier about it.

Bain was his number three overall player. The league had him more in that 8-12 range, but the Bucs had no intention of letting him slide. They wanted to trade down, but once the Ravens took Vea Iowane and Bain was sitting there at 15, Tampa unplugged the phones.

The fit is disgusting. Todd Bowles’ defense, Vita Vea eating double teams, Bain getting free rushes. He’ll play 3-4 defensive end, stand up as an outside linebacker, even kick inside to three technique on passing downs. The short arms concern? Overblown. The player? A problem for NFC South quarterbacks.

Lions fans got Blake Miller instead. It stings, but Miller’s going to be really good. Sometimes the consolation prize is still a win.

NFC North Draft Grades: Everybody Did Their Homework

Sikkema gave all four NFC North teams solid marks — somewhere in that B to B-plus range. The Lions addressed their needs. The Vikings swung big on Caleb Banks and got insurance with Dominique Orange. The Bears landed Dylan Horton, a top-eight player on Sikkema’s board, in the 20s. The Packers got potential starters at corner and center without a first-round pick.

The division is still the best in football. Nobody fumbled their draft. The margins are going to be razor thin again next year.

As for Super Bowl contention? Sikkema’s not worried. The roster is still loaded. The injuries killed them last year, not the talent. Get healthy, get a little luck, and Detroit’s right back in the mix.

The Takeaways

• Blake Miller is a day one starter with nastiness and 54 college starts — stop wishing for Monroe Freeling
• Derrick Moore’s role depends on how they deploy Hutchinson, but his pass rush win rate is elite
• The Lions traded up for Moore specifically to beat Baltimore to the punch
• Jimmy Rolder is a special teams stash, not a future starter
• All four NFC North teams graded out around B/B-plus — this division stays loaded

Watch the full segment on YouTube: NFL Insider on Detroit Lions Draft | Woodward Heavyweights | Tuesday, April 29th, 2026