Ohio State expert talks about what Tyleik Williams needs to work on in order for the former Buckeye to be a star for the Lions

The Detroit Lions used their first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to further strengthen the interior of their defensive line when they picked former Ohio State defensive tackle Tyleik Williams with the 28th pick. 

There have been some questions about Williams' abilities as a pass rusher, and some wonder about what his weaknesses are and what his ceiling could be. 

We also wondered, so we talked to our Ohio State beat writer Brandon Little, to ask him some of the questions we wanted answers to, and here's what he had to say: 

Lions GM Brad Holmes compared Williams to Alim McNeill. Do you see the similarities there?

"In terms of size, I think they are similar players. They can both contribute as run-stoppers and pass rushers. Both rely on their explosiveness and power over actual technique, which is interesting. The size is similar, with Williams weighing just a bit more. Pairing the two together in the future would benefit Williams, given their similarities."

Williams needs growth in the pass rush department. Has he shown to be someone who can get there? 

"Williams doesn’t have great length, so that hurts him a bit and can sometimes be taken out of plays with a double team, though I don’t expect he gets many of those early on in his career, at least. Williams needs to continue to work on the technical part of the game and hope that it can catch up to the aggressive nature he can show as a pass rusher. A player who really flashed ability here over points of his Ohio State career."

What is the big strength for him? 

One-on-one matchups where Williams is able to get his hands on first often leads to him winning the rep and creating some sort of havoc. He is quick out of his stance and knows exactly where he’s going to make an impact. The Ohio State product is explosive and a force as long as he stays upright. 

What is the big weakness? 

"Pad level is one of my biggest knocks on Williams. He ends up being taken out of plays at times due to pad level and not a lot of length. If there is one part of his game he needs to improve, it is the pad level and keeping himself from being knocked out of plays."

Some draft experts believed the Lions reached on Williams. Where do you stand on that?

"Early on, as a freshman, Williams looked like he was going to be a star with five sacks. His role changed a bit for the Buckeyes over time, and his production went down a bit. Ohio State relied on Williams a ton on the front, and he is a gritty player who knows how to win and is a strong leader. I thought Williams was a second-round player, but he’s the kind of player who I’d be okay with taking in the first. He is a safe pick late in the first round because he has a solid floor at defensive tackle, and you’re going to get a suitable starter at the very worst down the road."