The Detroit Lions entered the 2026 NFL Draft needing offensive line help, and when they were on the clock at No. 17 overall, several options remained on the board.
Ultimately, Brad Holmes and the Lions selected former Clemson offensive tackle, Blake Miller.
Now, thanks to a newly released behind-the-scenes video from the Carolina Panthers, fans have gained a fascinating glimpse into how another NFL front office viewed Detroit’s decision.
And judging by Carolina’s reaction, the Panthers were thrilled the Lions went in a different direction.
Panthers Appeared Focused on Monroe Freeling
The Panthers recently released a draft documentary called Panthers Blueprint, chronicling their path to selecting offensive tackle Monroe Freeling with the No. 19 overall pick.
Throughout the video, Carolina’s front office repeatedly discussed Freeling as one of its preferred targets.
The team’s analytics department was heavily involved in projecting which prospects would still be available when the Panthers were on the clock.
Vice President of Football Analytics Eric Eager repeatedly mentioned Freeling as a player the organization was tracking.
“Freeling, (Xavier) Proctor is at 70%, one or the other,” (Per Pride of Detroit)
Later in the video, Eager again outlined the probabilities of several offensive tackles reaching Carolina’s selection.
“If you go by offensive tackles’ likelihood of making it to our pick: (Spencer) Fano 12%, Proctor 37%, Freeling 53%, (Caleb) Lomu 70%.”
Notably absent from those conversations was Blake Miller.
Despite Detroit ultimately making Miller the 17th overall pick, the Panthers’ draft room footage never appeared to identify him as one of their primary targets.
Lions Refused to Move Off the Pick
As the first round unfolded and offensive tackles began coming off the board, Carolina grew increasingly concerned that Freeling might not make it to No. 19.
The video reveals that Panthers officials even discussed the possibility of trading up with Detroit.
According to the footage, Carolina considered using additional draft capital to move up two spots and secure Freeling before the Lions could select him.
When Detroit officially went on the clock, the Panthers placed a call to Lions Chief Operating Officer Mike Disner to gauge whether the team would consider moving down.
The answer was no.
Executive Vice President of Football Operations Brandon Tilis later explained Detroit’s position.
“They were doing the same thing we would’ve done and that we were planning on doing anyways. Which is: we’re not taking calls on this pick unless you’re willing to do something dumb, and we weren’t willing to do anything dumb.”
The Lions stood firm and ultimately made their selection.
Carolina’s Reaction Says Plenty
Perhaps the most interesting moment came immediately after Detroit turned in the card.
When the Lions selected Miller instead of Freeling, the Panthers’ draft room appeared visibly excited.
According to the video, one person in the room reacted with surprise.
Are they really?”
That comment was reportedly followed by a shared fist bump among Panthers personnel as the organization realized Freeling was likely going to fall directly into its lap.
The remainder of the first round played out perfectly for Carolina. The Minnesota Vikings selected defensive end Caleb Banks at No. 18, leaving Freeling available for the Panthers one pick later.
Tilis admitted afterward that Carolina was thrilled with the outcome.
“They got the guy who they really wanted. They’re really excited about him. And we were pretty fired up when we thought there was a high likelihood that Monroe would be there.”
What It Means for the Lions
The reaction from Carolina’s draft room will undoubtedly fuel debate among fans.
Did the Panthers simply have Freeling rated significantly higher than Miller? Or were they focused on scheme fit and organizational preference?
The reality is that every NFL team builds its draft board differently.
Brad Holmes has earned considerable trust in Detroit after helping build one of the league’s most talented rosters through the draft. His track record includes selecting players such as Aidan Hutchinson, Brian Branch, Jahmyr Gibbs, Sam LaPorta, Terrion Arnold, and Christian Mahogany.
The Panthers may have celebrated when Miller became Detroit’s choice, but the only opinions that ultimately matter are the ones inside Allen Park.
The true verdict on Miller versus Freeling won’t come from draft room videos.
It will come on Sundays.
