Tyleik Williams Is A Beast Against The Run
April 4th, 2025
Ohio State DT Tyleik Williams.
The Bucs have been dropping hints, if you listen closely, that they are very impressed with how the Super Bowl champion Eagles loaded up on defensive linemen and just bullied people up front.
That’s why Joe not only wouldn’t be surprised if the Bucs draft a defensive tackle on one of the first two nights of the draft this month, Joe would actually be sort of happy.
Get some beast to go into a rotation with Calijah Kancey and Vita Vea and the Bucs could just beat up opponents’ offensive lines.
Besides, Vea is 30. Next year Vea is in a contract year. Who knows where he plays in 2027?
So since the Bucs are drafting at No. 19, you figure maybe, just maybe the Bucs have a shot at the second-best defensive tackle in a defensive tackle-rich draft. Could the Bucs grab an Ohio State product at No. 19 or perhaps in the second round?
Tyleik Williams of Ohio State is a human wall against the run. Yes, Bucs coach Todd Bowles still believes in stopping the run first. This Williams does just that.
Emory Hunt of CBS, the Czar of the Playbook, once said of Williams that he looks like a nose tackle and moves like a three-technique.
Williams isn’t a huge pass rushing guy, but man does he eat up running backs.
Having Williams and Vea lined up next to each other might result in someone getting charged with assault. Williams is a tweener in that, depending on who you read, either he’s going late in the first round or he’s sliding into the second round because many NFL teams value pass rush more, even from their tackles.
Joe wouldn’t throw rocks at passing traffic if the Bucs grabbed this beast.
Want to fix your run defense in one pick?
Draft the brick wall that is Tyleik Williams. pic.twitter.com/mPRzRclnEa
— Connor Rogers (@ConnorJRogers) March 21, 2025
April 4th, 2025 at 10:55 am
Multiple reasons for drafting an IDL:
– Vea’s age and contract ending soon
– Hall’s contract ending soon
– Kancey already missing 8 games in 2 years
– depth is pretty below mediocre
April 4th, 2025 at 11:01 am
All good points @Marine. Williams seems like a better option too, over Graham who might also be available in that range. Good analysis at NFL.com on him.
April 4th, 2025 at 11:11 am
I like Walter Nolen, sure seems like DT which I’m not mad at.
April 4th, 2025 at 11:19 am
So do many people on Nolen, he won’t get anywhere close to 19. Most likely to Ninerzz at #10 for Nolen.
April 4th, 2025 at 11:19 am
Bucs never draft Ohio State players
April 4th, 2025 at 11:24 am
I’m a big fan of drafting from quality programs that teach the fundamentals of football well and churn out NFL ready prospects.
Ohio State, Michigan, Texas, Alabama, Georgia to name just a few.
And there definitely is value in depth at DT.
If I give Bowles any credit at all, it’s that his run defense is always very good for the most part.
Play to your strengths while working on your weaknesses.
Of which Bowles has many.
28-27
April 4th, 2025 at 11:44 am
Kenneth Grant seems like a good option also.
April 4th, 2025 at 11:47 am
Hope about that pass rising DT from Tennessee?
Or Michigan Grant?
Then go edge round 2 corner/safety round 3
ILB round 4
April 4th, 2025 at 11:54 am
Is this the guy that went down running the 40 at his pro day? I never heard if that was a big deal or minor thing.
April 4th, 2025 at 12:07 pm
Jason knows better than any of us, but I’m with the club touting Michigan dude, Kenneth Grant.
April 4th, 2025 at 12:08 pm
1st rd – Edge from BC
2nd rd – DT
3rd rd – Bazza from Oregon
4th rd – CB Kobe Bryant from Kansas
5th rd – WR
Even better, if Bucs can trade back a few positions and get an extra 3rd rd pick, use it to grab the WR there and pick another CB in the 5th.
April 4th, 2025 at 12:26 pm
Would be happy with a game changing DT.
April 4th, 2025 at 12:30 pm
Bazza seems to have claimed into the late 2nd – early 3rd round. I don’t think he’s going to be a option anymore with their 3rd pick.
I’m glad to see that lots of people are coming around to them picking a DT early. On the other hand, This class is so deep that even if the board falls in such a way that the Bucs don’t pick a DT. It may still be possible to sign a UDFA DT with a 5th or 6th round draft grade.
April 4th, 2025 at 12:31 pm
Bucs are sending out so many mixed messages on round 1. They must have someone they really want.
April 4th, 2025 at 12:42 pm
Anyone but the Texas A&M guy who has all the physical DE attributes and NONE of the production
April 4th, 2025 at 12:47 pm
No on
Shemar Stewart
April 4th, 2025 at 1:09 pm
The Bucs need pass rushers not more run defenders.
April 4th, 2025 at 1:10 pm
Based on the value of the draft and playing mock simulation games I feel like you can get a lot of athletic DT’s in R2 or R3 even, but if the guy is a freak I’m fine with R1. We need to draft a DT either way.
I like the idea of going with either edge / DT and a CB or S in R1-R2, and then R3-R4 get ILB and another either edge or DT. Then take some shots on WR or O-line
April 4th, 2025 at 1:16 pm
Somewhere Defense Rules just got a hard on
April 4th, 2025 at 1:16 pm
As someone who also follows both the Bucs and the Buckeyes- I like Tyleik as a player but not in the first round! He is a bit undersized to dominate the interior like Vita and does not have the pass rushing chops like that of a Kancy that would make me want to pick him at #19. TW should be considered if he were available in the middle part of the second round! Take the best available pass rushing edge or CB with that first pick and then in rounds 2 and 3 choose from DL, ILB and secondary help (safety or another cb)!
April 4th, 2025 at 2:31 pm
Colonel Angus … I’m not easy. Tyleik Williams was actually my 3rd choice. Michigan’s Kenneth Grant (6’4″ & 331 lbs) intrigues me, but I’m sure he’ll be long gone before we pick.
Texas’ Alfred Collins (6’6″ & 332 lbs) also intrigues me, because he apparently gets good push into the pocket (just not a lot of sacks).
Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams (6’3″ & 334 lbs) is more likely than the first 2 to be available when we pick.
April 4th, 2025 at 2:33 pm
Colonel Angus …
Lots of smaller DTs in between there, but I’m hoping that the Bucs stay away. We need BEEF in the very middle of this DLine, not to play with Vea but more-so to replace him on those 40% def snaps when he isn’t out there. Vita can command double-teams on virtually every play; and that has to help the other guys pass-rushing or run-defending. There are lots of quick 290 lbers it seems, but they’re not commanding double-teams like the big bodies do. If we’re gonna get more consistent pressure this year AND simultaneously provide much better pass coverage, we’ve got to improve our 4-5 man rush. And yes, we’ve also got to at least maintain and hopefully improve our run defense in the process.
April 4th, 2025 at 2:39 pm
At Mock Draft Database, Tyleik Williams averages pick 44 with highest pick 31.
That tells you nothing about what the guys making the picks will do, but it may give a general indication of his value.
The ideal reasonably possible draft for me would be Campbell at 19, trade the 5th and 7th round picks to move up as far as possible to take Williams in the second, DB in the third and best available in the fourth.
April 4th, 2025 at 3:11 pm
what are bucs planning with all these contract restructures? it’s getting exciting, just read Baker joined the fray
April 4th, 2025 at 4:20 pm
There’s enough good defense on the board depending on how things fall for us to fill needs and BPA’s at the same time. If we Zig when others Zag that will be crucial, I trust Licht and his staff to know all this. They have been excellent in the draft and have only gotten better with time, I just worry about the peeps who have left to go elsewhere that take the same smarts with them. I do believe if there are strong peeps in the middle that is where we will go first unless someone that rocks them is there for CB, ILB, S.
April 4th, 2025 at 4:21 pm
Again to fill a need with BPA is manna
April 4th, 2025 at 4:52 pm
This is the opposite of the Bucs normal strategy. They find a deep class and draft one later. If the class is deep at WR, they wait until round 3 and grab one, etc. If this is a draft class deep at DL, they probably bite around the 2nd-4th round.
April 4th, 2025 at 5:01 pm
It’s pretty clear that the bucs brass value DTs. I don’t think many of us predicted the Vea pick or the Kancey pick but they are both good picks.
April 4th, 2025 at 5:40 pm
“Next year Vea is in a contract year. Who knows where he plays in 2027?”
Seems like a no-brainer to slap the franchise tag on Vea.
April 4th, 2025 at 5:52 pm
DT/NT. Must have.Top priority in this years draft.
April 4th, 2025 at 6:06 pm
Mike. Not saying you are wrong or right.
I know class was deep last year at WR and they took McMillan there.
What are your other examples??
April 4th, 2025 at 6:18 pm
I love BEEF.
April 4th, 2025 at 7:05 pm
We don’t need another 3tech in the mold of kancey, we need a bonfide nt that can ideally penetrate. Problem is those guys don’t exactly grown on trees.
Worst case if kancey goes down we can slide Gaines in for run D, for pass Diaby. With Reddick and braswell on the outside.
If Vita goes down we have NOTHING that can replicate his impact.
I don’t know too much about any raw super athletic nt that could be picked up in later rounds, that’s why I’m so bullish on kenneth grant.
I don’t see us spending a super high pick on edge unless it’s for someone they REALLY like. I think to an extent as an organization you have to bank on your investments (diaby and braswell) producing with Reddick as a hedge.
CB and DT need to be our first 2 picks.
April 4th, 2025 at 7:29 pm
I like that big safety that runs like the wind. Reminds me of that safety that played with the Steelers back in the day of the curtain. Mel Blount.
April 5th, 2025 at 1:09 am
Beef. It’s what’s for breakfast, lunch and dinner.