It could be a big second year for Tyleik Williams, down 50 pounds and ready to show why he was drafted in the first round in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Second-year defensive tackle Tyleik Williams appears ready to make a jump.
With the Lions’ rookies already reporting to training camp Saturday, the rest of the roster will begin arriving, including veterans on July 28. One player who has already made an impression is running back Isaiah Pacheco, who rode into camp on horseback. As I wrap up my final Detroit Lions 2026 player profile series, one of the last players to break down is second-year defensive tackle Tyleik Williams.
Williams recently shared on his Instagram story that he has lost 50 pounds since entering the NFL. If that weight loss has translated into added strength and improved conditioning, the former Ohio State standout could be in line for a major breakout season.
Williams appeared in all 17 games as a rookie in 2025 and started 10 of them, becoming an important part of Detroit’s defensive line rotation. While his numbers did not jump off the page, he showed flashes that suggest a much bigger role could be ahead.
According to Pro Football Focus, Williams earned a 62.1 overall defensive grade, ranking 51st among 134 qualified interior defensive linemen. His pass-rush grade of 68.2 ranked 37th at the position, while his 53.8 run-defense grade ranked 70th.
As a pass rusher, Williams generated 19 total pressures, including one sack, one quarterback hit and 17 hurries. Against the run, he recorded 16 solo tackles and 12 defensive stops while playing 446 defensive snaps, the 82nd-most among NFL defensive tackles.
Before entering the NFL, Williams was one of the most productive defensive linemen in college football during his four-year career at Ohio State. Over 51 games with the Buckeyes, he totaled 136 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks and 10 pass breakups. At the NFL Scouting Combine, Williams measured 6-foot-2 7/8, 334 pounds with 32-inch arms and ran a 1.74-second 10-yard split, showcasing impressive explosiveness for a player of his size.
One underrated part of Williams’ game is his ability to disrupt passing lanes. He finished last season with four pass deflections, an area where Detroit’s defensive line has struggled in recent years. Defensive linemen who consistently get their hands up provide value that often doesn’t show up in the sack column.
With DJ Reader no longer on the roster, Williams has an opportunity to step into a starting role alongside Alim McNeill. If he takes another step forward, Detroit could have one of the better young interior defensive line duos in the NFL.
Brad Holmes has built a reputation for identifying talent through the draft, and I believe Williams could become another success story. He may be one of the Lions’ most overlooked players entering the 2026 season, but the potential is there for a breakout year.
My prediction is that Williams finishes the season with five sacks, several more pass deflections and earns his first Pro Bowl selection. If his offseason transformation translates to the field, Lions fans could be watching one of the defense’s biggest risers in 2026.
