Draft 2026: OT - Blake Miller, Monroe Freeling, Max Iheanachor
Three more early-round OT prospects who could be instant starters
The following are 3 OT prospects who could be an instant starter for the Lions. One of them displayed amazing reliability in setting a school record for career snaps. The other 2 have a history of shoulder surgeries, but could be a steal if they fall to the 2nd round.
Reliability and health will be a top priority with the likely retirement of Taylor Decker.
Concern level ranges from 0 (no concern) to 5 (might be worth the risk if the reward is high) to 10 (take him off your board, Brad).
(Ages in parentheses are at start of 2026 season and are factored into the concern level. Injury info and ages based on available public information and are unverified - subject to update. Games played data courtesy of sports-reference.com.)
Quick Summary
Blake Miller, OT (22): fractured wrist - 1/10 concern
Monroe Freeling, OT (22): shoulder surgery, ankle - 3/10 concern
Max Iheanachor, OT (age unknown, 24-25?): shoulder surgery, leg, age - 5/10 concern
Blake Miller, OT (22) - Clemson
Projected round 1. #23 on Daniel Jeremiah board Jan 27.
Concern level 1/10
2025: 13/13 games
2024: 14/14 games
2023: 13/13 games
2022: 14/14 games
Miller has a history of a broken wrist during spring ball (unknown year) with subsequent surgery. Any kind of fracture to the wrist joint could lead to arthritic issues down the road.
So far though, the wrist hasn’t affected him much, if at all. This ironman has a perfect track record of reliability in his 4-year career having played 54 games straight. He set the Clemson record for career snaps from scrimmage with 3,778. If the Lions want grit, Miller might be it.
Monroe Freeling, OT (22) - Georgia
Projected round 1. #24 on Daniel Jeremiah board Jan 27.
Concern level 3/10
2025: 14/14 games. Exited Game 5 with ankle injury (possible high ankle) but played through rest of season.
2024: 14/14 games. Shoulder surgery after season.
2023: 9/14 games
Freeling has been reliable the past 2 seasons despite a couple injuries. The ankle and shoulder will need to be checked out by medical. The ankle isn’t much of a concern since he was able to play through it all season.
Max Iheanachor, OT (age unknown, 24-25?) - Arizona State
Projected round 2
Concern level 5/10 (pending age)
2025: 12/13 games. Opted out of bowl.
2024: 14/14 games. Shoulder labrum surgery after season.
2023: 6/12 games. Left leg injury, missed 3 games. Separate unspecified injury, missed 2 games.
2021-22: Played at JUCO
Iheanachor moved from Nigeria at age 13. He has a shoulder surgery history, missed about half a season in 2023 with multiple injuries, and is suspected to be of older age. All these issues will need further investigation by medical.
The potential age uncertainty is reminiscent of former Lions 1st-rounder Ziggy Ansah, who sharply declined after his 5th-year in the NFL. The age risk becomes more palatable after the 1st round.
If Iheanachor is available in the 2nd round (and the Lions didn’t already grab an OT in the 1st), the moderate health concern may be worth it to land a starting caliber OT.
For more elite OT prospects projected to go in the 1st-round…
Draft 2026: OT - Spencer Fano, Francis Mauigoa, Kadyn Proctor, Caleb Lomu
The NFL draft starts on April 23. As draft candidates for the Lions emerge over the next few weeks, I’ll post my health concern levels for select prospects. The concern level will range from 0 (no concern) to 5 (might be worth the risk if the reward is high) to 10 (take him off your board, Brad).