Heading into the 2025 NFL draft, the Detroit Lions didn't have many high-level needs. After all, for much of the 2024 season, the team was arguably the best in the league. Detroit needed minor fixes.
Maybe a guard would be a nice addition, but the team could also use a long-term disruptive edge rusher or a huge presence along the defensive line.
Once edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson was injured early last season, the Lions found a way to succeed even without much of a pass rush. Hutchinson is significant enough to create havoc on his own, of course, but he didn't need to be the only edge rusher that Detroit relied upon. Pairing him with a younger edge rusher would make the defense even more dangerous for years.
The Lions were in a great position in the first round, though. The team has drafted well enough that they could take a risk on a player that lesser teams could not. Of course, that means the player chosen would not necessarily need to have an immediate impact.
Lions choose Tyleik Williams in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft
Fortunately for Detroit, Tyleik Williams fell into their lap. The 6'3" and 335-pound defensive tackle looks like a nose guard, but he is so much more. He has sneaky good athleticism, and should be able to stuff the run while getting interior pass rush. Hutchinson should be able to feed of opposing offenses needing to account for Williams, too.
The best part is that even if the Lions hadn't chosen Williams, the team is still in a position to make a push deep into the playoffs. Detroit needs players like Hutchinson to stay healthy. The team changed a number of coaches this offseason, but Dan Campbell remains, and the culture he built does too.
Williams could very well make an immediate impact along the interior of the defensive line and help Detroit finally get the Super Bowl ring the franchise lacks. The Lions are this close to doing so. Williams might be the final piece in the proverbial puzzle.
