Every year, there is a guy or maybe a couple of guys who just seem to come out of nowhere and find themselves moving up the board in the NFL Draft. The Detroit Lions have drafted guys like that before. The big one you might remember was Ezekiel Ansah.
Ansah was not really on anyone’s radar until a really good Senior Bowl and a good NFL Combine. The next thing you know, he’s a top-five pick. More recently, it was Giovanni Manu. This guy just happened to be another player’s pro day, and half the league suddenly became super interested, and he winds up being a fourth-round pick.
This year, the guy who is rising up boards and doing it fast is Washington State receiver Kyle Williams. He has a lot of fans in the draft expert world right now, and some have him super high on their boards.
When you watch him, you can see what draft experts are seeing in him. He has tremendous burst and acceleration off the line and can separate pretty fast. You really see that 4.4 speed he showed at the combine.
The guy can catch, too obviously. Williams had 70 receptions for 1,198 yards and 14 touchdowns at Washington State in 2024.
The Lions are in need of a receiver at this point, and they’re likely looking for someone who can take that Tim Patrick role on the outside and be their long-term guy there.
The interesting thing is that there is a fresh connection with Williams and the Lions. Detroit just hired offensive quality control coach Justin Mesa last month. Mesa is coming off four seasons with Washington State. Mesa worked with Williams on special teams and as an offensive quality control coach.
We’re not saying that the Lions will draft Williams because he has a connection with one of their new young coaches, but that connection can’t be ignored, and for a team that believes so much in collaboration and input, you have to believe that if Mesa had any input on Williams, the Lions would at the very least listen to it.
We’ll see what happens. Top 30 visits are beginning to roll in. Don’t be shocked if he’s one of the players who visits Detroit. Right now, our average draft position on Williams is at 85 in the third round. He could wind up going in the second when it’s all said and done.