Saints snag disruptive Georgia defensive tackle Christen Miller, bolstering their interior line. He's poised to make an immediate impact.
The New Orleans Saints have addressed their need for a defensive tackle. They did so in a big way.
The Saints drafted imposing Georgia Bulldogs defensive tackle Christen Miller after a strong college football career for the Bulldogs. NFL.com gave the following scouting report on Miller.
"Miller is an even-front nose tackle who can rattle pads and gain early advantages at the point of attack. He has good stack-and-shed against single blocks but lacks the prototypical mass of a space-eater. He will lose his anchor to double teams and strong angle blocks at times. He’s average at matching lateral movement off the snap but is generally aware of play design and hustles across gaps to squeeze run lanes. He’ll continue to bulk up and should become a good starter who is more consistent than dominant along the interior."
Miller appeared in 43 games in his four seasons with the Bulldogs. His college career culminated in a 23-tackle season with four tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. The stats, however, rarely tell the whole story for a defensive tackle.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets running back Chad Alexander (27) is tackled by Georgia Bulldogs defensive lineman Christen Miller (52) and safety Zion Branch (2) during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Dale Zanine-Imagn ImagesThe role of Miller's position is often to occupy space so that other defensive playmakers are freed up to make tackles. Miller may not be an elite "two-gap defender," but he was good enough to earn an early second round selection for the Saints.
Not everyone will love the pick. Yet given that the Saints went and added a wide receiver in the first round with Jordyn Tyson, it makes sense that they would strengthen the defensive side. Miller will look to make an impact right away in his first season in the NFL