Tyleik
Williams

Williams is so good at clogging up running lanes and collapsing the pocket that he's going and make a play. Tyleik has strong hands to slap through blocks and he's quick to shed and make the tackle. He virtually counts as two players along the defensive line. Stats and explosive in equal measure, he's a rookie to watch.

That's not hair clogging the pipes. It's Williams, who slaps a lid on slippery sprinters to stop any flow of yardage. The tackle's run-stuffing expertise helped him go in the first round of the 2025 draft, with the Lions plugging their noticeable hole up front.

The Lions want to dominate both sides of the run game. With the offense already led by a pair of prolific speedsters and arguably the league's best offensive line, the team fortified its run D by drafting Williams. The young stuffer sheds blocks with power and then pounces on the ball-carrier.

Tyleik Williams was one of the best defensive linemen in college football during his time at Ohio State. A big-time playmaker, Williams earned First-Team All-Big Ten honors in 2024 after posting big numbers for Ohio State's top-ranked defense. Williams carried that talent to Detroit where he'll partner on January 20.

Williams cites Aaron Donald as his favorite athlete of all time. The Detroit native has obviously spent hours watching his idol and actually compares favorably to him. Playing the same position, he's a similarly strong force who wreaks havoc in the pass-rushing and run-stuffing games.

Williams gets a ton of credit for always doing what it takes to get better physically and skill wise. "I was born with it," he said. "The work ethic has been me my whole life. In college I had a great support staff around me who helped elevate that and build it to what it is now, but I think I've always had it."