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With the 28th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions selected Ohio State senior defensive tackle Tyleik Williams. 

Williams is 6’3” and 334 lbs. He has 32” arms and 10 ¼” hands. 

According to NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein, Williams is a “drain-clogging run defender with violent first contact and nimble feet for impressive tackle production.” 

He is durable, playing 51 games over four years. 

For Ohio State, he helped win the 2025 National Championship, starting 13 games, and was third team All-Big Ten. He made 46 tackles on the season, eight tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks. 

His junior year was even better. Williams was third team All-Big Ten, with 13 games played, 54 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, and three sacks. 

In his freshman and sophomore seasons, Williams was honorable mention All-Big Ten. 

“Super excited how everything went tonight, to be able to acquire Tyleik,” said Lions Executive Vice President & General Manager Brad Holmes. “Obviously, been watching him for a really long time. He’s played a lot of football there at a very consistent level, and he just has a lot of traits and qualities that we’re looking for and he’s going to fit in here like a glove. We spent a lot of time with him during the process leading up to this, and we were very, very impressed after each time that we were able to spend time with him.” 

Watch the full press briefing. 

In an interview with press after his selection, Williams described his pre-draft interactions with the Lions and stressed his use of film study to help the defensive front excel in games. 

“I had great talks with the Lions when I met with them, and they definitely explained that I can be a key piece of the defense,” said Williams. 

When asked by a reporter where his football IQ comes from, Williams said, “For me, IQ comes from, I watch a lot of film. I would say I’m like a film junkie. I’m always in the film room trying to gain an advantage of anything I can.” 

Watch the full interview. 

Word from Ohio on Williams’ selection recalled one of his most impressive and appreciated accomplishments. Per Andrew Gillis, of Cleveland.com, 

“Being part of a unit that held a great Notre Dame run offense to just 53 yards in the national title game is certainly the crowning achievement of that front four.” 

The Lions got a stout run defender who loves to play the game. He is a difference maker, and he can be a key part of a defensive front charged with stopping the Philadelphia Eagles’ stellar rushing offense. While not known as a pass rusher, Williams did have 11.5 sacks in his college career. 

ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr., on Inside NOVA, summarizes Williams as “stout against the run up the middle, but he also shows the quickness and suddenness to penetrate the backfield.” 

Read Inside NOVA’s full compilation of draft analysis on Tyleik Williams. 

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