The Detroit Lions have signed rookie defensive lineman Tyleik Williams to a four-year contract worth over $16.48 million. Williams was the No. 28 selection in last month's draft. A two-year starter at Ohio State, he'll join five other Lions rookies who have inked their deals -- leaving second-round guard Tate Ratledge the only one unsigned. The 22-year-old is part of a loaded Detroit defensive front, so it may be tough for him to garner a ton of playing time early on. Teammates DJ Reader and Alim McNeil are solid options up the middle, capping his upside to begin his career. Still, his athleticism and prowess in the run game should keep him on the field for now and push him into starter territory eventually.
The Detroit Lions selected Ohio State defensive tackle Tyleik Williams with the No. 28 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft on Thursday night. Detroit opted to bolster the interior of their defensive line with their first-round pick this year with Williams, who stands at 6-foot-3, 334 pounds. The 22-year-old was a third-team All-Big Ten selection in 2024 after starting 13 games for the national champions. He recorded 46 tackles (eight for loss) and 2.5 sacks while missing three games due to injury. Williams had impressive tackle production as a run-clogger up the middle thanks to his nimble feet. He has the ability to dominant man-to-man matchups with offensive guards but will need to work on his hands at the next level with the Lions. The former Buckeye probably won't be a big sack guy, at least initially, which makes him a long shot to be worth a look in IDP fantasy formats in 2025.
Tyleik Williams
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Lions
