ALLEN PARK -- First-round pick Tyleik Williams has signed the dotted line with the Detroit Lions. Terms of the rookie’s deal were not disclosed.
That means six of the team’s seven draftees have officially signed, leaving only second-round pick Tate Ratledge. For those wondering, that’s nothing out of the ordinary, and the Lions are actually on a better pace at locking the entire class up than last year.
Last year’s second-round pick, cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr., went unsigned until the end of May. And 2024 first-rounder, cornerback Terrion Arnold, took his negotiations into June’s second week.
Ratledge was on the field at rookie minicamp, repping between center and guard. The Lions are excited about his future on their vaunted offensive line, and there is zero cause for concern.
Williams was also spotted at rookie minicamp. But he was in a much more limited role, working to the side and running on the hill while his fellow rookies went through team drills and everything else. The Lions are taking it slow with Williams after the busy lead-up to the draft and Ohio State’s deep run all the way to a national title.
The first-round defensive tackle has also been posting about his recovery from a hamstring injury on Instagram in recent weeks and months.
“I would say just getting mental reps,” Williams said at rookie minicamp. “Just like I said, it’s a new playbook -- you got to learn.
“So, I’m going to be in the film room with all the coaches, just learning as much as I can. So, when I am on the field, getting more reps, I can do it at a high level. Just making sure I’m ready when that time comes.”
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Williams is expected to beef up the team’s interior defensive line depth. He’s known as a mighty run stuffer, but the Lions feel there is some untapped potential and use in his pass-rushing ability.
And the first-round pick should have plenty of opportunities early in the season, with Alim McNeill expected to miss training camp and a portion of the season. Mekhi Wingo is also working back from an ACL injury suffered in the season’s second half and remains without a timetable for his return.
“Tyleik, throughout the year, the kid just got better and better and better every time you watched him, he got better and better,” Lions assistant general manager Ray Agnew said. “I think there’s a lot more growth with this kid. This kid’s got a lot of upside. I don’t think he’s reached his full potential yet. He’s got a chance to be a really, really good player for us. We were excited he was there for us to pick him. Great player.
“I think he’s underrated as a pass rusher. He’s got some things he needs to be taught, and coach (Kacy) Rodgers, our new D-line coach, will do a great job teaching him. This kid has a chance to be a force in the middle. As a defense, if you’re not good in the middle, you’re not very good. This guy will help us, man, with the guys we’ve already got. He’s a talented kid and love the way he plays the game.