NFL Draft 2025: Why the Detroit Lions should select Mykel Williams

Why the Detroit Lions should draft—and even trade up for—Georgia EDGE Mykel Williams in the 2025 NFL Draft.

The way things currently stand, it’s quite possible the Detroit Lions are prepared to start Marcus Davenport opposite Aidan Hutchinson in Week 1. But as we all know, that is a precarious game to play for the Lions. While Davenport plays the exact style they want out of an edge-setting defensive end, injuries have limited him to six games over the past two seasons, and he hasn’t had a productive year since 2021. Even if he turns it around this year, he’ll be 29 in the first month of the season. He’s not a long-term answer.

That’s exactly why the Detroit Lions should draft Georgia defensive end Mykel Williams with their first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Previously:

• Why the Lions should draft DT Kenneth Grant
• Why the Lions should draft DT Derrick Harmon
• Why the Lions should draft LB Jihaad Campbell

Ideal measurables

Mykel Williams doesn’t just fit the prototype of a big and tall edge defender at 6-foot-5, 260 (to 280) pounds. His arm length of 34.4 inches and wingspan of 82.88 inches allows him to keep offensive linemen at bay and maintain his focus on the backfield. That size and length show up on the tape with his elite ability to stop the run. Check it out yourself:

But there’s so much more meat on the bone the Lions could use. Williams didn’t participate in every on-field drill, but his 4.77 40-yard dash and 1.67 10-yard split suggest there’s plenty of speed and explosion to suggest he’s capable of unlocking more pass rushing skills that he may not have displayed in college.

Violent playstyle

Here’s how former Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn explained how Davenport fit the defense:

“He’s a violent, he’s a physical, he’s an athletic big man that play the game the right way. So you’re absolutely right – if you’ve got a guy like that that can bull rush and that can condense the pocket, that allows Hutch and other guys to go to work, and we expect that.”

Compare that with this profile of Williams, via The Ringer’s Danny Kelly :

“He’s a versatile defender, capable of lining up at multiple spots, and he flashes good leverage and power when playing over the tackle or on the interior. Against the run, Williams stacks blockers and gets them onto their heels, controlling the rep with length and leverage. He sets the edge with authority, hustles from snap to whistle, and tackles consistently”

He not only welcomes contact, he dominates it. If you’re trying to throw a pulling tight end his way, thoughts and prayers.

Want to double team him with a pair of offensive linemen instead? He’s still going to collapse the rushing lane with his power and length.

Production

Williams was a starter for two years at Georgia. But with the depth and rotation they use along the defensive line, his production numbers are significantly lower than you may expect. He averaged just 33.5 snaps per game last year (for comparison sake, Abdul Carter averaged about 45). Still, the production is good enough:

2022 (15 games, 2 starts): 38 tackles, 7.0 TFLs, 4.5 sacks
2023 (13 games, 10 starts ): 18 tackles, 7.0 TFLs, 4.5 sacks
2024 (12 games, 5 starts): 21 tackles, 9.0 TFLs, 5.0 sacks

His PFF grades are a little more revealing of the kind of play he’s capable of. He earned an 86.2 PFF run defense grade in the regular season—good for 11th best in the country.

His pass rush win rate was a fairly pedestrian 11.7%, but it’s worth noting Williams battled through an ankle injury for the first half of his 2024 season, and he’s still very much developing when it comes to his pass rush plan. He’s drawn comparisons to former Georgia EDGE Travon Walker, who managed just 6.0 sacks and a 7.0% pass rush win rate in his final college season. Walker has since posted back-to-back 10-sack seasons for the Jagaurs.

Weaknesses

Williams doesn’t have many downsides, but his pass rush is certainly unrefined and he plays a little upright. I don’t want to dismiss those concerns outright, because some of those habits won’t go away easily. However, most of Williams’ limitations are the result of limited experience and can be corrected with the right coaching staff.

Williams may not have the bend of an elite, top-tier pass rusher, but he’ll win more often with his power anyways. And there are enough athletic tools in his bag that his pass rushing arsenal has the potential to be varied. But, again, that is only potential at this point.

Grit/football character

His play style alone makes him a gritty player, but he’s also a high-character person between games. Here’s Georgia coach Kirby Smart from July 2024:

“He’s become very versatile for us in terms of what he does on the field. There is no greater value than what he does in the locker room because he works every day. He is physical, enjoys practice. He is a great leader for us. He should be a huge asset for us.”

It should come as no surprise that Williams landed in Tier 2 of our Grit Index —the sixth best score among this year’s EDGE class.

Okay, well will he be there at 28?

Yeahhhhhhhhhh about that.

When I started digging into prospects in late February, I thought that Williams’ lack of productivity may get him to slide down to the Lions. However, it sure sounds like if the Lions want to draft him, they may have to trade up to get him. The rumors this week are that Williams is a hot commodity.

ESPN’s Peter Schrager:

And an anonymous NFL defensive line coach (via The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman ):

“I think he will have a better career than Jalon or Abdul. He’s physical as f—. He played hurt this year — he didn’t care. Pullers come at him — he intends on f—ing them up. Guys I know at Georgia told me he’s gonna be better than Travon Walker, and I think Walker is a baller. Overall, I think he’s better than all of ’em.”

But if you want to hold onto hope that Williams falls to Detroit, it’s worth noting that he’s 19th on Arif Hasan’s consensus big board , 21st on Dane Brugler’s big board , and 22nd on Daniel Jeremiah’s board . It’s not out of the question he falls to Detroit at 28, but it’s much more likely the Lions will have to give out extra assets to get him.

Consider this my endorsement for a move like that. Williams is one of the most perfect fits for Detroit’s defense, and for him to come at a position of long-term need and a position of high value makes an aggressive move to get him worth it.