Detroit Lions draft LSU OL 70 Miles Frazier with the 171st overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. He fits exactly what they look for in an offensive lineman.
+ Fires out of his stance
+ Hands hit heavy w/ability to anchor
+ Good lateral quickness to pull & reach block#OnePride pic.twitter.com/pZoBEHYJJY
— Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) April 26, 2025
Over the last three drafts for the Detroit Lions, they’ve taken at least one offensive lineman in the 4th round or later each year. This year was no different, as we saw the Lions select interior offensive lineman Miles Frazier from LSU in the 5th round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Depending on who you talk to, it was a bit surprising that Frazier was still available so late in the draft. On my grading scale, Frazier earned a 3rd-round grade, and it appeared that the consensus felt as if Frazier was worthy of being selected in the 3rd or 4th round. However, he slipped into the 5th round and fell right into the lap of the Detroit Lions.
Last year, it paid off for the Lions to select Christian Mahogany from Boston College in the 6th round. It took a few months but when Mahogany hit the field, there were plenty of flashes and positives. After two starts as a rookie, it appears that he’s destined for an expanded role on the Lions offensive line. Could we see similar development with Miles Frazier?
When watching Frazier, it was evident that he fit exactly to what the Lions look for with their interior offensive lineman. He plays with a flexible lower half, looks to finish blocks and appears to be athletic enough to play multiple spots. There’s a thought that Frazier will play either guard or tackle (in a pinch) for the Lions. However, I think there’s a much different plan for Frazier in Detroit.
For starters, his first step quickness is very impressive. He gets the upper hand right away on defenders and throughout almost every rep, he plays with low pad level. Keeping his hands square and on the defender’s chest plate, he’s shown that he can steer and control the opposition with ease. Now there are instances where Frazier doesn’t stay square to the second level or he doesn’t always stay attached on combo blocks. Cleaning that up to help the Lions execute their zone runs or duo concepts will be important for the Lions run game.
With Christian Mahogany, Frank Ragnow and Graham Glasgow penciled in as the starters for the Lions interior part of their offensive line, it’s unlikely for us to see Frazier right away. That is perfectly fine for a 5th-round pick that needs some refinement before being trusted as an every-game starter in Detroit. In a pinch, Frazier could start at some point this season, but I would let the 23-year-old rookie get stronger and more technically sound.
Lastly, there’s been a lot of discourse on where Frazier will play in the NFL. The potential for him to start at guard and potentially replace Graham Glasgow is there. However, the same can be said about the Lions 2nd second-round pick, Tate Ratledge. His play style and body type are oddly similar to Glasgow. So while having a feasible guard waiting in the wings seems to be the plan, I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of Frazier playing center in Detroit. His first step and lateral quickness could make him a force in the middle if something were to happen with Frank Ragnow, especially with questions surrounding Ragnow’s longevity due to his injury history.
It’s clear that the Lions wanted to improve the talent and competition on the interior of their offensive line. That checks out, as there wasn’t enough development with Kayode Awosike or Colby Sorsdal to steer the Lions away from drafting another position(s). Knowing the importance of how the Lions want to run their offense, it’s valuable to have an influx of talent at all five positions on the offensive line. By drafting Miles Frazier, the Lions added to that talent pool.