Christen
Miller.
Christen
Miller.
Georgia· 6'3"· 321 lb
"Traits-over-production Georgia interior D-lineman with a rare first-step, long arms and Kirby Smart pedigree — the whole eval swings on whether the pass-rush plan ever catches up to the frame."Pre-draft read
This interior defensive lineman plays a rotational 3-technique, with the size to slide to nose in certain situations. He wins with a plus first step and long-armed strike that immediately drives up his blocker's pad level, collapsing the pocket. He anchors well against double teams due to natural pad level and 33-inch arms, effectively holding the line-of-scrimmage on power run downs.
His pass rush, while raw, relies on heavy hands and a bull-rush; however, his plan against a settled guard lacks refinement. His effort is consistent, chasing screens and stretch runs with intensity. Best deployed as a base 3-technique in an even front and as a sub-package interior rusher on games and stunts, he has a clear developmental path for an expanded role.
He's a fit for a one-gap 4-3 penetrating front or an even front seeking disruptive interior defensive linemen with good athletic ability.
Year 1 rotational 3-technique with developmental runway to become a full-time starter who can also slide to nose in a pinch against power runs.
He would be a poor fit in a 3-4 two-gap scheme where his primary responsibility is to anchor and consume blockers rather than penetrate.
Miller's natural pad level, long arms, and first-step quickness make him an ideal fit for schemes prioritizing disruptive penetration from the interior, rather than holding the point of attack.
Christen Miller FULL Highlights — Georgia DT (2026 NFL Draft)
Saints-published cutup of Miller's Georgia tape — first-step wins, long-armed punch on run downs, and interior rush reps out of the 3-tech.
"Show that razzle dazzle" — Christen Miller on his mission for UGA Pro Day
DawgNation Pro Day interview where Miller lays out what he wanted to prove after the Combine — bend, mobility and pass-rush polish.
Gutey's Guys: Christen Miller is the perfect Packers DT (Locked On Packers)
Pre-draft scouting breakdown of Miller's fit as a Day 2 interior D-lineman — trait ceiling vs. thin college production.
This defensive tackle prospect projects as a rotational piece with the physical upside to grow into a more significant role. Teams are buying his elite physical traits, particularly his first-step quickness and length, anticipating that professional coaching can refine his technique and expand his pass-rush repertoire. His 6-3 3/4, 321-pound frame and 33-inch arms offer a compelling foundation.
He spent four years in Georgia's system, rotating through a talented defensive line behind first- and second-round picks. As a redshirt junior, he recorded 4.0 TFLs in 14 games, reflecting a role-player usage rather than a full-time starter. His college experience provided a strong understanding of a pro-style defense, even if the individual production was modest.
The main concerns evaluators had were his limited college production and the rawness of his pass-rush plan, which relied heavily on a bull rush. Despite these flags, his physical profile and pedigree kept him projected as a top-45 developmental interior defensive lineman. He was ultimately drafted by the New Orleans Saints at pick 42 in the second round.
- 01
Length and hand strength
33-inch arms combined with 10-inch hands are ideal for interior defensive linemen, allowing him to control blockers and reset their pad level.
- 02
First-step quickness
His explosive get-off allows him to consistently beat interior linemen to their landmarks and threaten gaps once the ball is snapped.
- 03
Anchor vs. double teams
Maintains his gap against combo blocks due to natural pad level and a wide base, preventing him from being driven off the line.
- 04
Program pedigree and pro readiness
Four years in a top collegiate program means he understands NFL defensive line operations and expectations.
- 05
Effort and finish
His conditioning supports sustained effort, allowing him to chase plays downfield and across the line, even at over 320 pounds.
- 01
Thin college production
Limited TFL and sack numbers at Georgia raised questions about whether his rotational snaps truly showcased his traits or exposed limitations.
- 02
Pass-rush plan is raw
Lacks a diverse set of pass-rush moves, often defaulting to a bull rush with no effective counter moves when the initial burst is stopped.
- 03
Never a full-time starter
Without a full season of 60-snap-per-game work, projecting his ceiling as a primary starter requires more speculation.
- 04
Hand placement inconsistency
Inconsistent punch timing means he can allow blockers into his frame, neutralizing his initial rush before it develops.
| Yr | Team | G | Tkl | Sk | Int | PD | FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Georgia | 13 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | Georgia | 12 | 27 | 1.5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | Georgia | 11 | 23 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | — | 36 | 64 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
A dash means the figure is not published by a source we trust — never a zero we invented.
Length-and-anchor interior piece who plays a defined base 3-tech role with situational rush reps; the practical year-two projection for Miller in a rotation.
Long-armed, plus first-step interior D-lineman who grew into a full-time starter and inside rusher; the realistic top-end if the pass-rush plan expands with pro coaching.
Traits-over-production Day 2 interior pick whose pass-rush plan never fully arrived; the outcome if the bull rush stays the whole menu.
Everything above is the pre-draft evaluation. This section is what actually happened — updated year over year.
**Pre-draft context.** A metro-Atlanta kid who signed with Georgia as a four-star recruit in the 2022 class and spent four years inside one of the deepest defensive lines in college football. Redshirted as a freshman, rotated behind Jalen Carter and Nazir Stackhouse as an underclassman, then finished with a 14-game, 4-TFL redshirt junior season in 2025 as more of a role player than a headliner. The eval was always going to be traits-over-production: 6-3 3/4, 321 pounds, 33-inch arms and 10-inch hands, with a first-step and long-armed punch that flashed on rush-down snaps. Kirby Smart's program pedigree and the physical profile kept him alive on Day 2 boards even when the sack line stayed thin.
**NFL fit — New Orleans Saints.** New Orleans took him at 42 (R2 P10) to bolster an interior D-line that lost snaps in free agency and needs a long-term running mate next to Bryan Bresee. The reported plan is a base 3-technique role with sub-package interior rush reps on games and stunts, letting the length and first-step play up against slower NFL guards. As a rookie he projects as a rotational piece — early-down base snaps and passing-down games — with the runway to grow into a full-time starter if the pass-rush plan catches up. The Ellenwood-to-New Orleans distance also gives him a manageable landing spot family-wise, which the Saints reportedly liked.
**Retrospective.** Too early to grade at rookie training camp in July of his first summer. The comp range is genuinely wide: if the Georgia developmental staff-to-Saints coaching handoff works, the length, first-step and hand strength profile as a mid-career starter and interior anchor; if the pass-rush plan never gets past bull rush, he settles as a rotational base-down 3-tech and run-defense piece. The pick reads as a bet on trait ceiling over college output.