The Detroit Lions have a crop of new rookies eating up the spotlight as they get set to tackle their offseason program, but the focus should not be lost on several of their other young options.
While Detroit's rookies should lead a roster revival just in time to make a renewed 2026 push, it's true that the players already in the locker room will be the ones called to step up that need to develop the most. In this vein, it's a big year for defensive tackle Tyleik Williams.
Drafted in the first round in 2025 out of Ohio State, Williams had a decent start to his career while playing in a crowded rotation up front. Entering this season, the depth chart has thinned out enough where he is primed to see major minutes and thus become a huge part of the defense.
Pro Football Focus believes that Williams is already on the short list to erupt starting immediately. Analyst Bradley Locker put Williams on his list for the site's all-breakout team in 2026, and admitted he could be the young defensive tackle best primed to take a leap this season.
"Williams settled in nicely to Detroit’s defensive line rotation, playing to a 68.2 PFF pass-rush grade on 446 total snaps. That effort against the pass is particularly encouraging considering his poor performance in that area in his final two collegiate seasons."
"Somewhat perplexingly, Williams wasn’t effective against the run with a 5% run stop rate in 2025. But given his elite 88.6 PFF run-defense mark at Ohio State in 2024, expect an uptick in that category. Ultimately, the Lions not re-signing D.J. Reader indicates that the team is comfortable giving Williams an augmented role in his second year."
When the Lions let Roy Lopez, as well as Reader, walk in free agency, it indicated they were comfortable giving the keys to the younger players up front, and more specifically Williams. Detroit drafted him in the first-round for a reason, and now he will get a chance to show he is an NFL-caliber rotational piece.
Williams reveals what he must improve upon heading into 2026
A big reason that Williams is on this list is tape of what he was able to do in 2025. Early on, he looked as if he was going to be a major difference maker for Detroit's defensive line. As the season wore on, though, some issues plagued Williams before he made a strong finish.
The defensive tackle was aware of his trajectory by the time the season wrapped up, and understands that he did endure some of the typical peaks and valleys that a rookie is subject to while transitioning to the league.
"I think I was playing pretty well in the beginning and then some things happened (and) injuries happened. Then I think I kind of took a little dip, and then over the last few
weeks, I thought I was starting to play a little better."
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When it comes to next season, Williams admitted after the year that he already had some improvement spots in mind, specifically regarding hand placement and acceleration in the trenches.
"(I need to work on) really just my get off. Keying the ball more. Working my hand to eye coordination. Just normal stuff, nothing crazy."
If Williams has the type of season that PFF projects, that would be a big deal for the Lions. It would likely catapult them into the upper echelon of NFL defenses considering his potential impact on the game.
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