With April officially here, the countdown to the 2026 NFL Draft is officially on. The Chicago Bears will have four picks in the top 100, including two in the second round, providing the front office with plenty of opportunities to add long-term building blocks as the team continues year two of the Ben Johnson-Ryan Poles era.
While Chicago invested in left tackle last offseason, drafting Ozzy Trapilo, he's expected to miss most of the 2026 season. The Bears did retain veteran Braxton Jones in free agency, and signed former first-round pick Jedrick Wills to a one-year deal, adding both to a group that already includes undrafted free agent Theo Benedet. Left tackle may not be the biggest need for Chicago but adding a long-term option may not be a bad idea, especially since the front office can't hinge on Trapilo returning to pre-injury form.
One name that could make sense on day two at either 57th, 60th, or 89th overall is Clemson Tigers offensive tackle Blake Miller.
Let's get into our scouting report on Miller.
Blake Miller, Clemson, (6-foot-7, 317 pounds)
From his NFL.com draft profile via Lance Zierlein:
"Ultimate iron man at right tackle with 54 career starts. Miller has unusual lateral quickness and fluidity in space despite playing too upright. His hands lack accuracy and command in both phases, but he can recover and make blocks with a finisher's mindset. Miller is rarely beaten by rush games, but he has his edges attacked because of his hand issues. He will encounter difficulties at the next level without better pad level, core strength and cleaner technique. If he tightens up in those areas, Miller can become a solid NFL right tackle."
Film:
Strengths:
- Arm length is prevalent on film as a guy who will be a tackle at the next level.
- Effortlessly climbs to the second level and takes on linebackers.
- Always keeps his feet moving in pass protection.
- Can recover quickly when beaten.
- Lateral movement skills consistently flash on tape.
- Strong and powerful hands when punching defenders.
- Has played some left tackle throughout his college career.
Weaknesses:
- Has a tendency to lean forward a little too much, causing him to lose his base at times.
- Needs to get better at the point of attack.
- Still learning how to lower his pad level so that he can win battles consistently.
- Exposes his chest too much due to poor hand placement.
- Has to improve as a run blocker.
Does Miller fit the Bears offense?
As a pass protector, Miller is clearly better than his run blocking skills. From the Bears perspective, while having a true pass protector makes sense, especially if Miller moves to left tackle, it'd also mean he needs to improve as a run blocker. For a team that made running the ball a part of their identity last season, adding Miller would mean a steep learning curve is ahead for a unit that expects a lot of continuity in the run game.
Conclusion:
Miller's athleticism and arm length make him a tackle prospect who should be a day one starter, but he needs to improve on his ability to take the right angles in the run game and not leave his chest open, allowing defenders to drive him back in the pocket. His starting experience is a major plus for any team, but if he moves over from right tackle to left tackle, he'll need a lot of time to get adjusted.
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