When the Raiders selected offensive tackle Kolton Miller in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, there was a lot of concern about what type of player he would be in the NFL. However, the hope was that in time, he would develop into a fantastic pass-blocker due to his elite athleticism.
During his rookie season, he struggled mightily as he dealt with a knee injury. Then in the 2019 season, Miller did improve, but he still didn’t quite live up to his first-round status.
So far in 2020, Miller has excelled in pass protection. According to Pro Football Focus, he’s allowed just two pressures this season and has a pass-blocking grade of 80.1. That puts him at No. 10 among offensive tackles in pass-blocking grade, ahead of the likes of Tyron Smith, Lamery Tunsil and Terron Armstead.
Miller has yet to allow a sack and has shutout some pretty good pass rushers so far. While there still needs to be some big improvement from him in the run game, Miller is finally starting to become the player the team selected at No. 15 in the 2018 NFL Draft.
If Miller can continue to improve as a run blocker and can maintain this level of success as a pass blocker, there is no reason why he can’t develop into one of the league’s best left tackles. His development will be critical for the Raiders’ offense and their success.
Don’t count out the possibility of a Pro Bowl-type of season from Miller this year. He’s already on his way to earning that honor in 2020.
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