Lions head coach Dan Campbell praises first-round draft pick Tyleik Williams
Dan Campbell on Lions 1st round pick Tyleik Williams
Dan Miller spoke exclusively with Lions head coach Dan Campbell on Thursday night after the Lions chose Tyleik Williams with their first round draft pick.
DETROIT (FOX 2) - Detroit Lions first-round draft pick Tyleik Williams fits all the team's needs, head coach Dan Campbell said after the team selected the 22-year-old from Ohio State University.
Following the selection of Williams, Campbell praised the defensive tackle, comparing him to Alim McNeill.
"There's things about him that remind me of Mac," Campbell said. "He's really an athletic, big man that can play the nose, he can play the three, he can play some five-technique."
McNeill is currently dealing with a knee injury that will likely carry into the new season.
2025 NFL Draft: Detroit Lions select DT Tyleik Williams for their first round pick
The Lions have selected DT Tyleik Williams from Ohio State as their first round pick of the NFL Draft.
"We feel like he can get up to speed pretty quick," Campbell said of Williams, who could see some early playing time because of this.
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Williams had 11 and a half sacks in his college career and 46 total tackles last season. The Lions head coach said seeing Williams play in big games was huge for the draft process.
"He's played big football against good opponents. We think he's going to fit right in here," he said.
Campbell described Williams as a "smart, instinctive football player."
"He can anchor, he can bend, he strikes," he said.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 20: Tyleik Williams #91 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates a play during a game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 20, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo b
Campbell went on to add that there's also room for Williams to grow.
"There's some untapped potential in there that I know Kacy Rodgers is gonna get out of this guy," he said.