UCLA Football: Kolton Miller picked 15th overall by Oakland in the NFL Draft

With the 15th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, the Oakland Raiders have selected UCLA Football’s athletic offensive tackle Kolton Miller.

BOOM! And just like that, the UCLA football team has two players selected in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft as Kolton Miller has been taken 15th overall by the Oakland Raiders. The stud offensive tackle has been impressive in his three years at UCLA and reunites with former teammate Eddie Vanderdoes who the Raiders selected in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

Miller joins a young offense that is getting a shot in the arm with the charismatic Jon Gruden returning to his old stomping grounds and young QB Derek Carr looking to bounce back from a sub-par year in 2017.

Related Story: NFL Draft Profile: UCLA Football OT-Kolton Miller

How Does he fit:

The Raiders needed help on the edges of their offensive line and they believe they’re getting that in Miller. Donald Penn has had a solid NFL career but is turning 35 years old in 2018 and there’s no guarantees the Raiders can get a full season out of him. Last year’s fourth round pick, David Sharpe, played left tackle at Florida but is a better fit on the right side of the offensive line as he struggles with elite speed. That’s going to be an important fact to remember moving forward in this piece.

Miller could battle it out on either side of the line but you don’t take right tackles that high in the first round and so we have to imagine the silver and black see Miller taking over for Penn sooner rather than later. Athletic, long and with plenty of room to grow both technically and physically, this is a pick booming with potential.

The Raiders enjoyed a booming offense that ranked sixth in the NFL in 2016 but saw production come crashing down in 2017 when it tied for seventeenth. Much of that could be attributed to a down year from from Penn who suffered a foot injury much of the season eventually costing him the rest of the season. David Carr also took a step back but we could see him get a hand from newly acquired WR Martavis Bryant who was traded to the Raiders during the latter portion of the first round.

New head coach Jon Gruden will likely look to implement a power running philosophy when the Raiders keep the ball on the ground. Miller fits that style well and uses his large frame to engulf defenders and drive them off the ball. He’s also can be a nasty finisher which is something you know Gruden loves.

Concerns:

Raider fans saw how the offense struggled without Carr when he was lost with a broken leg to end 2016. So it’s a little scary to consider that Miller has struggled some in pass protection. He’s plenty athletic but as Brandon Thorn of NDT Scouting pointed out Miller has a “disastrous false step that played a large role in his QB Josh Rosen dealing with an inordinate amount of pressure”. Of course solid coaching can correct technical issues but correcting muscle memory isn’t an easy thing to do.

Miller also finished both the 2015 and 2016 season injured and unable to play all 12 games each season while dealing with various injuries.

Add into the fact that fellow AFC West team the Denver Broncos took North Carolina State DE Bradley Chubb to pair with pass rushing demon Von Miller and protecting Carr has to move to the top of the priority list. Miller can struggle against more technically sound pass rushers, or pass rushes with a plan of attack and both of those guys have a deep bag of tricks.

Though the Bruins have not been able to get a proper run game going in the last two years, they improved under a new offensive coordinator and OL coach last season. The UCLA football offense made improvements in the run game adding a full yard to their yards per carry average.

Next: UCLA Football QB Josh Rosen picked 10th by Arizona in the NFL Draft

Miller had the opportunity to return to school for his senior season but instead opted for the NFL Draft. He’s an athletic piece of clay that former UCLA Football OC and most recently the Seattle Seahawks OL coach Tom Cable gets to mold. Congrats to Kolton Miller on being selected 15th overall by the Oakland Raiders and as always Go Bruins!