Lions charged with making one of the most shocking NFL draft picks and it isn't Isaac TeSlaa

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After having a busy start to the offseason, the Detroit Lions entered the 2025 NFL draft and walked out with seven new players to add to their roster for the upcoming season.

Early evaluations of Detroit's 2025 draft class haven't been great, with many experts putting them near the bottom of the league.

On Monday, FantasyLife's Thor Nystrom gave the Lions general manager Brad Holmes' draft an "F," and he was extremely critical of their first-round pick (No. 28 overall), Ohio State defensive lineman Tyleik Williams.

"Holmes' machinations during the draft confused me," Nystrom wrote. "His team, desperate for help on the EDGE, eschewed multiple quality prospects at that position in order to make the most shocking pick of Round 1, DT Tyliek Williams.

Williams is a wide-bodied, quick-footed interior player who is an awesome run defender. I understand the vision. I did not see the pass-rushing profile I need to see for a first-round prospect at that position."

Williams, 22, spent four seasons with the Buckeyes, recording 136 tackles (28 for a loss), 11.5 sacks, 10 passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovered in 51 career games. He also won a national championship and earned All-Big Ten honors twice and All-American honors once.

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After Detroit released Za'Darius Smith this offseason, it was clear that they needed to find an edge rusher to play opposite Aidan Hutchinson, but Holmes didn't address the need in free agency or in the draft until the sixth round when they took Boise State's Ahmed Hassanein.

At the time of the Williams pick, Boston College's Donovan Ezeiruaku, Marshall's Mike Green and Texas A&M's Nic Sourton were still on the board.

In fact, the only edge rushers selected before Detroit took Williams were Penn State Abdul Carter (New York Giants), Georgia's Mykel Williams (San Francisco 49ers), Georgia's Jalon Walker (Atlanta Falcons), Texas A&M's Shemar Stewart (Cincinnati Bengals) and Tennessee's James Pearce Jr. (Falcons).

Williams may still end up holding down the middle of the defense and being a solid pick for the Lions, but with how much they needed help on the edge, the selection was a bit surprising.