The Lions may or may not need an immediate starter on the offensive line depending on free agency, but the need to upgrade the depth behind the starters is one of Detroit’s biggest needs. A player who can capably fill in at either guard or tackle as a rookie and become a starter in time is a desirable prospect.
Wyatt Milum definitely fits that bill. The Mountaineers standout thrived at tackle in college but quickly proved he’s capable of kicking inside, if needed, during Senior Bowl week.
Wyatt Milum, OL, West Virginia
- 6-foot-7, 315 pounds (measured at Senior Bowl)
- 4-year starter at tackle, beginning in 2021 at right tackle and then 3 years on the left side
- Credited with zero sacks allowed in his final three seasons
- 3-time academic all-conference
- 4-star recruit rated as the top right tackle prospect in his high school class (2020)
- Turned 23 in December
Games watched: Iowa State, Penn State (23 and 24), Kansas, Oklahoma State, Senior Bowl week (in person)
Positives
- Explosive quickness into jump sets
- Consistently outstanding hand placement throughout a rep
- Good punch power and grip strength
- Light on his feet to get to second-level targets
- Strong base anchor strength, can stand up a bull rush
- Good recovery athleticism and footwork
- Can create movement and drive in the run game
- Really adept at keeping square and dictating the action to the pass rusher
Negatives
- Short arms (under 33 inches) and an overly long torso that exposes his chest as a target
- Rushers who set up wide and cross his face can create narrow footwork
- Has a habit of dropping his head upon contact after the initial scrum
- Speedy second-level rushers can get under his reach
- Inexperienced playing guard, which might be his better NFL position
Overall
Milum is a rock-solid, high-floor offensive line talent who is accustomed to playing in a run-heavy offense with a diverse blocking scheme. That he didn’t allow a sack in his final three seasons while playing left tackle speaks volumes about Milum’s functional athletic ability, strength and technical prowess.
His odd body (short arms and legs for his height) will want some teams to move him inside to guard or even center, and Milum has the base strength, short-area quickness and grit to make that work–though likely with an adjustment period. As a tackle prospect, he’s similar to Lions LT Taylor Decker when he was a first-round pick in 2016, though Milum will likely test better athletically. He’s a top-25 overall prospect for me and should be a very strong consideration for the Lions first-round pick if they’re looking at offensive line help.