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.
Dikembe Mutombo on the gridiron
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 Jonah Jackson in a blink and tips another pass that is nearly intercepted by cornerback Terrion Arnold.
It certainly seems like Williams has a knack for this, and for someone to have that skill along with the power and athleticism he has been displaying—it can lead to some game-changing plays for Detroit’s defense.
Twinkle Toes No. 2
When you turned on Williams’ tape from his time in Columbus, you knew if something was going to immediately translate for him at the pro level, it was most likely going to be his run defense. Williams is powerfully built, and like Alim McNeill, remarkably quick for a man who is listed at 328 pounds.
On this play, the Green Bay Packers are attempting to stretch the defense horizontally, allowing for running back Josh Jacobs to find a crease to get north-and-south. His teammates do a good job of stringing the run out, and Williams disposes of Packers right tackle Zach Tom before making the tackle on Jacobs by hustling to the football.
Now jumping to the Lions’ win over the Baltimore Ravens, we have quarterback Lamar Jackson in the gun, with running back Derrick Henry to his right. Henry takes the handoff from Jackson and begins working left in search of running room. Reader is able to get underneath his blocker, and linebacker Jack Campbell stays patient as he fills right off of the downblock from Baltimore right guard Daniel Faalele.

Williams engages with Ravens left guard Andrew Voorhees, extends his arms, and gets eyes on Henry, forcing the running back to turn back inside towards the teeth of the defense. I love seeing clips like these where Williams can show that he is a quick, twitchy athlete despite being one of the biggest players on the field.
Already an elite run defender
Next up is one of my favorite plays from this study because it shows how dominant the Lions can be against the run when they really want to be. Detroit deploys five defenders along the line of scrimmage, with linebacker Derrick Barnes to the left of your screen and defensive end Marcus Davenport to the right. Inside, you have Hutchinson lined up on the inside shoulder of the in-line tight end, Williams at the three-technique, and Reader at the one-technique. Simply put, that is a problem to run the football against.
Reader crashes in towards the right guard, Anzalone fills to his right, and the result is a wall, with Barnes using perfect technique by keeping his shoulders square and squeezing down the edge. And while it isn’t a direct play made by Tyleik Williams, it shows how integral a part he is in the Lions’ strong run defense.

Up next is a similar instance to the last clip, only this time, Williams is going to be double-teamed at the three-technique. Watch as he drops to one knee, eats up the double team, and his teammates do the rest. It is another near-perfect run-fit by Detroit, allowing for safety Brian Branch to come up and make the tackle for loss. I know this made Reader smile in the film room.
It’s early, and we are likely just seeing Williams scratch the surface of what his potential could be. I believe the pass rush is on its way. And with McNeill returning to the field sooner rather than later, Kelvin Sheppard is getting another big-time athlete he can deploy along the interior of his defensive line.
Early-down looks with your down defensive linemen, as Hutchinson, Williams, Reader, and McNeill?
Yes, please.