Bambini’s take: TeSlaa, from just outside Grand Rapids, Michigan, joins a Lions wide receiver room that features Amon-Ra St. Brown, Williams, Tim Patrick, and Kalif Raymond as the top four. TeSlaa will have the chance to develop into another weapon for quarterback Jared Goff. Though not producing high-ranking numbers, TeSlaa had zero drops at Arkansas, proving his consistency in catching the ball. He’ll also likely have an opportunity on special teams, an area where he played on the punt return and punt coverage teams for the Razorbacks.

What he had to say: “I think teams appreciate the way I play using my size, my hands obviously, (I) don’t drop a lot of balls which they really appreciate. I use my frame, catch the ball, run good, clean routes.” — TeSlaa after his Pro Day at Arkansas

In years past, Brad Holmes has shown a willingness to move up and down in the first round. Big swings like 32 to 12 for Jameson Williams in 2022, or a willingness to move back and wait for his prospect to fall to him like Jahmyr Gibbs in 2023. But in 2025, Holmes let the board come to him with the Lions’ first-round pick.

The Detroit Lions selected Ohio State defensive tackle Tyleik Williams at pick No. 28, making him the fifth interior defender off the board and the 10th defensive linemen to be drafted in the first round. Earlier this week, ESPN’s Dan Graziano predicted there could be a run on defensive linemen on Thursday night, and while it didn’t happen all that early as Graziano forecasted, it still played out that way before the Lions’ pick.

Still, that didn’t deter Holmes, someone who’s been unafraid of bucking need for value, from taking Williams. Much like a year ago, the Lions were afforded the opportunity to let the draft shake itself out. And much like a year ago, there seemed spots where Detroit could make a move to go up and get a guy with a first-round grade on their board.

In the end, Holmes went with Williams, a massive piece for the middle of the Lions defensive line at 6-foot-3 and 330 pounds. Williams lined up mostly as a three-technique for the Buckeyes defense despite his unusual size for the position. Run defense is at the forefront of his player profile, something Brian Baldinger highlighted shortly after the Lions made him the pick.

It’s easy to see the long-term fit next to Alim McNeill: both capable of moonlighting in the middle of the defense at nose tackle, but also having unusual size plus footwork and agility to make plays in the backfield as a three-tech. In the short term, the Lions have a guy who could very well be ready to step in and be productive immediately while McNeill rehabs from his ACL injury.

Williams recorded an 88.6 run defense grade in 2024 according to Pro Football Focus, the eighth-best mark among 539 qualifying interior defenders in FBS. While he has all the physical tools—athleticism, size, and strength—to play the run as effectively as he does, many analysts (and Holmes) highlight the football intelligence Williams’ possesses. Dane Brugler of The Athletic highlighted that Williams “… has outstanding awareness to identify pre-snap clues and anticipate play design … he is one of the best run-defending linemen in the draft class because of his recognition skills and disciplined execution at deconstructing blocks.” For those reasons, as Holmes remarked on Thursday night to the media, he’s a natural fit for the Detroit Lions.

What’s not as evident in Williams’ game is his pass-rush plan. Despite playing more than 320+ pass-rushing snaps in each of his last two seasons at Ohio State, Williams never registered more than 22 pressures in either season. He tallied just 11.5 sacks in his four-year collegiate career with his freshman season being the most productive (5.0). In spite of fans pining for Detroit to add an edge defender, the Lions opted to go with Williams at pick No. 28. Detroit passed on higher-ranked edge rushers like Jihaad Campbell, who went just three picks later to Philadelphia, and with names like Mike Green and Donovan Ezeiruaku also still available, the Lions clearly prioritized interior disruption over edge help.

Could Holmes have afforded to be more patient with the board and wait on Williams, or a similarly-tiered player? The Los Angeles Rams were able to move back 20 spots and into the second round for a future first-round pick from the Atlanta Falcons. The Houston Texans added a third-round pick this year (99) and next year to move back from 25 to 34. It takes two to make a deal happen, and maybe it just wasn’t there for Detroit in the end.

Detroit upgraded their defensive line in the immediate and created a blueprint for the future of their interior. Williams is exactly the kind of player the Lions covet when it comes to his football smarts and ability to defend the run, and it’s easy to see his path to contributing. He is as much an identity pick as you’ll find in the first round. But it’s also fair to question if Holmes got the most value out of the 28th overall pick by selecting a prospect that checked in at No. 41 among the Top 300 of Arif Hasan’s Consensus Big Board.

Williams is a clear identity and scheme fit, and there’s no doubt he’ll help Detroit’s run defense right away. Questions about his upside as a pass rusher and draft value keep this pick from earning top marks, but the commitment to solidifying the interior of the defensive line make this a pick that’s hard to scrutinize too much.

My grade: B

Day 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft has finally arrived.

In recent mock drafts, the Lions have strengthened their defensive and offensive lines, plus have upgraded the cornerback position at No. 28 overall.

With that said, let’s look at who the draft analysts have Detroit selecting in this draft season’s final mock draft roundup. 

EDGE Mike Green, Marshall

Green is presently being mocked by the following: 

NFL.com (Lance Zierlein)

Defensive tackle Derrick Harmon, Oregon

Harmon is currently being drafted by the following: 

The Draft Network (Jaime Eisner)

Defensive lineman Walter Nolen, Ole Miss

Nolen is presently being selected by the following: 

The Draft Network (Mason Johnstone)

Wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State 

Egbuka is presently being drafted by the following: 

Pro Football Network (Jacob Infante)

As Infante writes, “Rumors have swirled that the Detroit Lions could look to trade star receiver Jameson Williams, rather than pay him a contract extension. Should they do that, they’d need to add another weapon to pair up with Amon-Ra St. Brown in this 2025 NFL Mock Draft.

One could argue that Emeka Egbuka is the most well-rounded wide receiver in the 2025 NFL Draft. He has a nice frame with good hands, a high route-running IQ, solid athleticism, and the ability to work himself open, both as a ball-carrier and as a route-runner.”

EDGE Jalon Walker, Georgia 

Walker is presently being mocked by the following: 

Pro Football Focus (analysts; trade-up with the L.A. Chargers to No. 22 overall) 

As PFF pens, “Walker — a pass rusher with elite potential who can also play off the ball and, by all accounts, is of extremely high character — is an obvious Lions target. He recorded a 17.2% pass-rush win rate at Georgia last year and is expected to be selected much earlier than 22nd overall in the actual 2025 NFL Draft.”

Defensive lineman Tyleik Williams, Ohio State 

Williams is currently being projected by the following: 

Pro Football Focus (Trevor Sikkema)

Cornerback Will Johnson, Michigan

Johnson is presently being mocked by the following: 

ESPN (Peter Schrager)

As Schrager opines, “Johnson’s stock has slipped a bit. He had a foot injury last season and was inconsistent for the Wolverines. He also sat out Michigan’s pro day because of a hamstring injury.

He’s a top-level talent, though, and he’d be the perfect corner to complement Terrion Arnold.”

Cornerback Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky 

Hairston is presently being selected by the following: 

The Draft Network (Justin Melo), FOX Sports (Geoff Schwartz), The Athletic (Dane Brugler)

Wide receiver Matthew Golden, Texas 

Golden is currently being projected by the following: 

The Draft Network (Daniel Harms)

Wide receiver Luther Burden III, Missouri 

Burden is presently being mocked by the following: 

The Draft Network (Ryan Fowler)

EDGE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M

Stewart is currently being picked by the following: 

Yahoo! Sports (Charles McDonald), CBS Sports (Ryan Wilson), The Draft Network (Keith Sanchez), Pro Football Network (Mark Stolte), Detroit Free Press (Rainer Sabin)

As Stolte expresses, “This could end up being one of those picks where everyone looks back and clowns the rest of the league for allowing the Detroit Lions to get him. Shemar Stewart is an absolute specimen of an athlete at 6’5″ and 280 pounds (playing weight). He is perhaps the most athletic person to play the position: 4.59 seconds in the 40-yard dash, 10’11” broad jump, and a 40-inch vertical.

The one thing he lacks is college production. While some of that could be the scheme and role he played with the Texas A&M Aggies, playing opposite Aidan Hutchinson with Alim McNeil and DJ Reader on the interior is about as perfect an opportunity as you’re going to get. He would be almost guaranteed 1-on-1 situations where he would get to really show off that elite athleticism.

This is practically like the Lions getting both Travon Walker and Hutchinson.”

EDGE Mykel Williams, Georgia 

Williams is presently being mocked by the following: 

NFL.com (Eric Edholm), The Athletic (Colton Pouncy; trade-up with Seattle Seahawks to No. 18 overall)

As Pouncy pens, “For a GM who’s all about drafting the right player, not position, this checks out. If you love a guy, don’t hesitate to get him — especially when you have one of the NFL’s most complete rosters.

So, then, does Williams fit the description? In this mock, he does.

Historically, Williams is almost everything the Lions like from their edge rushers. He’s got ideal size at 6-foot-5, 261 pounds, has 34 3/8 anoconda arms, can defend the run and maintains discipline, plays with power and a motor and is viewed as a high-character individual. Here’s what Georgia coach Kirby Smart had to say of Williams, per The Beast: ‘He’s very versatile for us in terms of on the field, but there is no greater value than what he does in the locker room. … (He’s a) great leader for us).’”

EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College 

Ezeiruaku is currently being drafted by the following: 

The 33rd Team (Kyle Crabbs), CBS Sports (Pete Prisco), Detroit Free Press (Dave Birkett)

Offensive lineman Donovan Jackson, Ohio State

Jackson is currently being mocked by the following: 

NFL.com (Bucky Brooks), NFL.com (Daniel Jeremiah)

EDGE James Pearce Jr., Tennessee

Pearce is presently being drafted by the following: 

The 33rd Team (Ian Valentino), Pro Football Network (Brentley Weissman)

As Weissman writes, “James Pearce Jr. is one of the most underrated edge rushers in this class with exceptional speed, bend, and body control. He’s one of my top players in this class who falls a bit in the mock draft.

Pearce’s ability to effortlessly navigate around offensive tackles would perfectly complement Aidan Hutchinson’s skills, creating a formidable pass-rushing duo for the Detroit Lions and establishing them as a dominant force.”

Offensive guard Tyler Booker, Alabama

Booker is currently being drafted by the following: 

NFL.com (Charles Davis), NFL.com (Chad Reuter), Tankathon

As Reuter pens, “Booker’s powerful presence would help fill the huge hole left by Kevin Zeitler on the Lions’ offensive line. Though he played primarily on the left side, Booker logged time at left and right guard at Alabama, and veteran Graham Glasgow has started on both sides, setting the team up to find a combination that maintains the strength of Detroit’s top unit.”

EDGE Nic Scourton, Texas A&M

Scourton is presently being mocked by the following: 

Pro Football Network (Ryan Gosling)

As Gosling writes, “Nic Scourton might be the most aesthetically pleasing pass rusher in the class. He’s wise beyond his years regarding his arsenal of rush moves, and his well-developed frame is NFL-ready despite only being 20 years old. Unfortunately, gaining unnecessary weight for the 2024 season likely hurt his NFL Draft stock.”

Offensive lineman Grey Zabel, North Dakota State

Zabel is currently being projected by the following: 

ESPN (Jordan Reid), DetroitLions.com (Tim Twentyman), CBS Sports (Josh Edwards)

As Twentyman writes, “Zabel showed at the Senior Bowl he can handle the step up in competition. He started at four different spots along the offensive line in college and when he moved to center at the Senior Bowl he was probably the most consistent of the bunch. The Lions love that kind of versatility upfront.

Zabel could compete for a starting spot at guard right away and could be a plug-and-play piece at a number of different spots, if needed. Zabel’s skillset, versatility and play style fits perfectly in Detroit.”