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Think way back to the 2018 NFL Draft. It was pretty clear that the Raiders needed a left tackle but after Mike McClinchy from Notre Dame was picked one spot ahead of Oakland, they traded down to No. 15 and “settled” for Kolton Miller.
That move upset a lot of fans as they “passed” on Derwin James and selected a left tackle prospect who many people believe wasn’t a first-round quality player. While Miller was a freak athlete, his tape at UCLA was less than stellar.
The groaning and complaining grew louder after his rookie season as Miller finished the season as one of the worst offensive tackles in the entire league, according to Pro Football Focus. Making matters worse for Raiders’ fans was that Derwin James was a first-team All-Pro selection as a rookie. Miller appeared to be a bust and James was on his way to becoming a superstar.
But since that rough initial season, Miller has improved by leaps in bounds. He finished the 2020 season with the highest grade of his career (72.9) and his steady development and youth (25) has to be encouraging for the Raiders. He’s gained muscle and has become one of the better “movers” at the position. Edge rushers have a hard time beating him because he’s just so athletic and can stay in front of anyone.
Las Vegas has one of the best offensive lines in the NFL (when healthy) and the growth of Miller has played a big part in that. Entering Year 4, look for Miller to continue to improve his technique and strength as he develops into one of the league’s best left tackles.
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