Kolton Miller has a lot to prove.
The Raiders’ young offensive left tackle had a rough rookie season in 2018 after being the team’s top draft choice. He played through injuries that impacted his mobility, and he struggled in pass protection, giving up 16 sacks.
So Miller, who has reported to the Raiders for this week’s organized team activities (OTAs), went to work this offseason by getting stronger and bulking up to better cope with NFL defensive linemen.
As Levi Damien of SB Nation reported, Miller is now up to 328 pounds on his 6-foot-9 frame, up from 309 pounds last season.
“I was back home in Sacramento and I was working out every day and my parents were struggling to try to pile on the food every night,” Miller told Damien. He lifted weights and worked out daily and, thanks to some home cooking, put on pounds.
According to head coach Jon Gruden, Miller is not just bigger, but in better condition, too. He sees big things ahead for Miller.
“We think Kolton Miller is going to be one of the best at left tackle in football,” Gruden said. “He’s not only healthy, he’s in great shape. He’s gotten a lot stronger, he’s added some weight, some muscle, and he’s still a real flexible athlete that can run and change directions, and being in the second year in the system I expect a lot of good things.”
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Miller is expected to stay at left tackle this season, despite the fact the Raiders brought in free-agent tackle Trent Brown, who was the Patriots’ left tackle in 2018. Brown will play on the right side.
If Miller can improve and Brown can play at the level he did in 2018, Oakland will have a pair of great pass protectors for quarterback Derek Carr.
“I know last year wasn’t good enough,” Miller told reporters. “I’m expected to be better, and I will be better.”
Raiders OTAs are scheduled to continue for four weeks.
