Another Body for the Pass Rush
The Lions grabbed Tennessee edge rusher Tyre West with the 22nd pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and honestly, this feels about right for where we are as a franchise. Not flashy, not a reach, just solid depth that might actually help.
West is what you’d call a versatile piece. Big body who can rush the passer or slide inside to defensive tackle when needed. He put up 16 pressures and four sacks in 2025 as part of Tennessee’s rotation, which is decent production when you’re not getting every snap.
The Good News
This kid has Marcus Davenport-like assets, and before you start having PTSD flashbacks, we’re talking about skill set here, not injury history. West specializes in stopping the run first, with some pass-rush ability mixed in. That’s exactly what you want from a rotational piece.
The versatility to work inside at defensive tackle is huge. Some draft experts called him an edge, others labeled him a DT. He played edge rusher for the Volunteers, but having that flexibility means Aaron Glenn can move pieces around when needed.
Managing Expectations
Let’s be real about what we’re getting here. West’s ceiling isn’t exactly through the roof. He’s expected to crack the rotation at minimum, but don’t expect him to suddenly become a starter beyond that role.
And you know what? That’s perfectly fine for a seventh-round pick. If he can come in, help stop the run, and grab a sack here and there, that’s value. We’ve seen worse investments from this organization over the years.
The Scouting Report Reality Check
West was a four-star recruit who put in four productive seasons in Knoxville, but he never quite made that jump from rotational player to feature guy. Part of that was Tennessee’s philosophy of heavily rotating their defensive line, but part of it might just be his ceiling.
He played just 281 snaps in 2025 compared to 783 for Tennessee’s leading defender. West started hot with 15 tackles and four sacks in the first four games, then cooled off significantly. He didn’t record more than two tackles per game the rest of the way and didn’t get another sack after Week 4.
He’s a true defensive end who can slide inside if needed, though he’ll need to add some weight to handle that interior work at the NFL level. If he makes the 53-man roster, expect him to serve as defensive end depth.
Look, this is the type of pick that either works out as solid depth or gets cut in camp. No middle ground. But at this stage of the draft, with this team’s needs, it makes sense.
Is this the kind of late-round gem that finally puts us over the top, or just another body that’ll be fighting for practice squad spots come September? Let me know what you think below.
I actually like this pick more than most people probably will. West has the versatility Aaron Glenn needs to move guys around, and honestly that’s what wins in the NFL these days. If he’s solid depth that can rotate in and help with the run game, that’s exactly what you want at this stage.
Cool, so another project that might be depth at best. I get it, it makes sense for a late round pick, but I’ve seen so many of these guys come through here and just disappear. Really hope this one sticks around, but I’m not holding my breath.
This feels like the type of methodical team building I respect. Not sexy, not trying to be flashy, just adding pieces that can do a job. That’s how you build something that lasts, not hoping one guy changes everything for you.
West’s versatility is exactly what we’ve been missing honestly. The ability to slide him inside or keep him on the edge depending on what we need gives Aaron Glenn so many more options. I’m genuinely excited to see how he develops in our system.