2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Tyleik Williams

Strengths:

• Size and Frame: Williams quickly grabs your attention with its broad, sturdy frame, legs that resemble tree trunks, and mitts for hands.
• Heavy Hands: He flashes an explosive first step, but his greatest strength off the snap is how he uses power and violent hands to engage blockers' pads and take control of the rep.
• Torque: Williams possesses impressive upper body and core strength, which he utilizes to twist, torque, and shed run blockers as both a single-gap and two-gap defender.
• Versatility: A highly skilled athlete, adept at shooting gaps, moving laterally through run lanes, or executing stunts. With him on the field, various options are available from multiple defensive tackle alignments.
• Pass Rush Upside: Williams flashes a few power-based pass rush moves on top of being able to overpower smaller blockers with his bull rush when he wins the leverage battle.

Weaknesses:

• Footwork: Williams's footwork can occasionally get out of sorts, affecting his stability at the point of attack and draining his power.
• Short Arms: Most of his wins depend on making the first significant contact and jolting blockers with power, then countering off that initial strike. However, his shorter arms shrink his margin for error.
• Leverage: His bull rush and ability to handle double teams are inconsistent, mainly because of his fluctuating pad level.
• Pass Rush Production: He is still learning to develop a pass rush plan, build on previous moves, and achieve pass rush wins. The mental processing of how to confront blocks is still evolving.

Final Thoughts and Bears Fit for Tyleik Williams:

I watched Tyleik Williams's tape a year ago before he decided to return to Ohio State for the 2024 season, and I wasn't a fan. Although his PFF grades were clean, and there was some hype around his name, I saw a somewhat sloppy, unrefined nose tackle who lacked conviction and aggression. I recognized the upside but was uncertain about the instincts and brute violence required to play defensive tackle in the NFL.

When I flipped on the tape this year, I felt like I was watching a different person. Williams played much faster this year and was an absolute problem for college blockers. Although his pass rush production was still lacking, he established himself as one of the elite run defenders in college football while showing dominant flashes of pressuring the passer. In short, he looked like a grown man out there.

Williams would excel in an even front, allowing him to play either the nose tackle or the three-technique position. He is most effective in a front that asks him to stop the run while also pressuring the passer. His potential is that of a key starter, just shy of becoming a Pro Bowl player. Conversely, his floor is as a starting defensive tackle. Although his upside isn't as high as some other defensive tackles in this class, he remains a reliable choice to start in the league and continue developing his skills.

Williams would make an excellent choice for the Bears with picks 39 or 41. His skill set would be a valuable addition backing up Andrew Billings, and he has the versatility to shift to three technique as needed. Additionally, gradually integrating him into the rotation would help him expand his pass-rush toolbox. However, there’s a chance he won't be available with teams like the Bills, Lions, and Texans all selecting towards the end of the first round.

Pro Comp: Eddie Goldman