With longtime stalwart Lane Johnson set to return for a 14th season, the Philadelphia Eagles welcome back one of the best to ever do it at the right tackle position. Time waits for no one, though, and a succession plan has to be put in place by General Manager Howie Roseman.
Enter Blake Miller, a tantalizing prospect from Clemson who could receive sage guidance and development under Johnson in the immediate future, with designs to eventually inherit right tackle duties when the future hall-of-famer does, in fact, hang it up.
Nate Tice and Charles McDonald over at Yahoo!Sports envision Philly rolling with Miller in round one of their latest mock draft:
23. Philadelphia Eagles — Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
"Lane Johnson won’t be playing forever on the right side of Philadelphia's offensive line and it might make sense to try and stash his replacement for a season or two like the Eagles did with Cam Jurgens at center when Jason Kelce was transitioning out of football. Like just about every offensive tackle who could go in the first round of this draft, Miller has prototypical size and athleticism with plenty of room to grow as a player for the long term."
NFL draft mock drafts, especially at this time of the year, are churning out different ideas left and right. This one checks all the boxes, though. While Philadelphia undoubtedly has pressing needs at edge, safety, and even wide receiver amid the A.J. Brown situation, it all starts up front.
If Roseman takes this route in round one, Miller would arrive in Philadelphia both highly decorated and durable. A four-year starter for the Tigers, the 6-foot-6, 315-pound Ohio native set the Clemson school record for snaps played (3,778) over 54 games of action. An iron man in the trenches, Miller earned All-ACC accolades in each of the past three seasons while showcasing superior pass protection skills.
One of his calling cards is also his agility, which lends itself well to his continued development in the ground game. While scouts rave about his pass protection skills, under the guidance of an elite veteran like Johnson, Miller can take the next step to becoming a force in future years for Philadelphia.
Injuries have affected not only Johnson but also Landon Dickerson and Cam Jurgens. Depth in the immediate future is called for, and an understudy for the iconic #65 at right tackle is essential.
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Landing a top talent in the trenches is more important than ever for Philadelphia, and tabbing Miller with the 23rd pick makes a ton of sense.
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