Pride of Detroit
Don’t look now, but Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes may have done it again. Drafted 28th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, Lions defensive tackle Tyleik Williams is looking like another hit for Holmes and the rest of his staff.
Coming out of Ohio State, Williams was regarded as a player who could immediately help an NFL team’s ability to defend the run, which was important for a Lions team that knew they would be without star defensive tackle Alim McNeill for the early part of the 2025 season. With that knowledge, there was also an understanding among most draft pundits that the pass-rushing chops would likely take some seasoning before the results came.
Now, just five games into his rookie year, Williams has flashed star potential on Detroit’s interior defensive line and has become a player that defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard knows he can depend on. Let’s jump right into the All-22 to see how Williams has been impacting games during the Lions’ 4-1 start to the season.
Getting hands in throwing lanes is often an underrated skill for defensive tackles, despite being something that position coaches constantly harp on. When you know you aren’t going to get to the quarterback, the next best thing you can do is get those big paws in the air to try and get a deflection. It would seem easy in theory, but it takes vision and timing to properly execute.
Through five games, Williams has already logged three pass deflections—two in the Lions’ 52-21 win over the Chicago Bears, and his most recent below during the Lions’ Week 5 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Watch as Williams is lined up at the three-technique on the outside shoulder of Bengals left guard Dylan Fairchild (No. 63). He immediately pushes Fairchild back into the pocket and works to get his head around the guard in order to get eyes on quarterback Jake Browning. As Browning begins his throwing motion, Williams gets his left hand in the air and registers his third pass deflection of the year.
Next up, we have the first of two pass deflections that Williams registered in the Lions’ dominant win over the Bears in Week 2. Williams is lined up against Bears left guard Joe Thuney in a one-on-one situation. It’s a good rep from Thuney, who is able to slow Williams’ progress towards the quarterback. While engaged, you can watch as Williams has his eyes on Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams. By the time the ball is released, Thuney is only a couple of feet in front of his quarterback, making it easy for the rookie defensive tackle to get his right hand up to break up the pass.
Now with under eight minutes to play in the third quarter, the Bears’ offense is faced with a fourth-and-five. The Lions only send four rushers at Williams, opting to drop seven into coverage. Unfortunately for Chicago, it doesn’t matter. Williams beats Bears right guard...
