Detroit Lions first-round pick Tyleik Williams joked after Friday's first day of rookie minicamp at the Meijer Performance Center that one of the most surreal things that's happened to him since being drafted by the Lions with the No. 28 overall pick is Grammy Award winning singer John Legend following him on Instagram.
Williams has yet to reach out with a direct message to Legend. More importantly, Williams has reached out to veteran teammates Alim McNeill, Aidan Hutchinson and others to say hello and ask for advice. Most have had the same advice for him.
"They welcomed me in and are telling me I have to get to work," Williams said after practice Friday. "Definitely it's not going to be handed to me. I'm ready for that. So, it's good."
View photos of Detroit Lions players arriving for 2025 rookie minicamp and getting fitted for equipment.
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Tyleik Williams gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Ahmed Hassanein arrives at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Tate Ratledge gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Dominic Lovett gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Dominic Lovett gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Dan Jackson gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Dominic Lovett gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions center Leif Fautanu gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Tate Ratledge gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Zach Horton at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Helmet belonging to Detroit Lions defensive lineman Tyleik Williams at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa arrives at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Dan Jackson arrives at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Miles Frazier arrives at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Ahmed Hassanein arrives at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Tyleik Williams gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Tyleik Williams gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Tyleik Williams gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Miles Frazier gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Zach Horton gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Tyleik Williams gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Miles Frazier gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jakobie Keeney-James gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Ahmed Hassanein is greeted by Detroit Lions Equipment Assistant Casey Edwards at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Dan Jackson gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Ahmed Hassanein gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Ahmed Hassanein gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Zach Horton gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Williams took part in just the open team period of practice before spending the rest off to the side with trainers. He said afterward it's just part of a practice plan the team has for him this weekend.
"Just a plan they got me going on right now. It's a long season," he said. "I just came off a long season so it's just being smart."
Williams is expected to make an immediate impact for Detroit's defense as a rookie. Some of his quickness and violent hands were on display in that early team period. He was a dominant run defender at Ohio State and that's an area he should be able to help right away. Detroit's also intrigued with his pass-rush potential from the interior, something he wasn't asked to do a lot of with the Buckeyes.
"I think there's a lot more growth in this kid," Lions assistant general manager Ray Agnew said of Williams before practice Friday. "This kid has a lot of upside. He's got a chance to be a really, really good player for us and we're excited he was there for us. He's got a chance to be a really good run player, and I think he's underrated as a pass rusher. This kid has a chance to be a force in the middle."
Agnew said there was one thing in particular that stood out about Williams the very first time he watched him. Agnew was a former first-round pick as a defensive tackle out of NC State and won a Super Bowl, so knows a little something about good defensive play.
"When he would strike blocks, you could see the offensive lineman move back because he's such a powerful human being," Agnew said.
We definitely saw some of that early on in Friday's practice and hope to see a lot more as Williams ramps up his activity and joins the veterans in OTAs in the coming weeks.
"I think I can help in a big way," he said. "Whatever they need me to do, I'm here and I'll give it my best. Just being dominant. I think I showed that over the years at Ohio State and I think it'll translate to the NFL."
