Grading Lions’ Round 7 pick Tyre West

To finish off the 2026 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions drafted EDGE Tyre West out of Tennessee in the seventh round. Not only did Lions general manager Brad Holmes draft an EDGE early, but he also took another one late, giving them more options and competition. The thing about West is he’s projected to be a big EDGE type, something the Lions already have in Levi Onwuzurike, so how West fits on this team will be interesting.

With this being the final pick of this year’s draft, did Holmes end with a bang or more to be desired?

Roster impact

West is projected to slide on the inside of the defensive line in the NFL. If the Lions agree with that and see him strictly as a defensive tackle, the battle for DT4 is getting more and more crowded. If he can be versatile and play on the inside and outside, this could be the team’s replacement for Onwuzurike for 2027.

Welcome to Detroit, Tyre West 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Pxdx6THNyZ

— 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔇𝔢𝔱𝔯𝔬𝔦𝔱 𝔗𝔦𝔪𝔢𝔰 📰 (@the_det_times) April 25, 2026

College career

West played all four years at Tennessee, playing in 48 games and getting five starts. West grew as a player every year, and 2025 was his best season yet. In the end, West finished with 65 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, two forced fumbles, and a pass deflection.

Tyre West is a Lion.

The UT defensive end is headed to Detroit as the 222nd overall pick in the NFL Draft.

He is now the fifth Tennessee Vol off the board. #Volspic.twitter.com/bpFMGgbmma

— Emilie Rae Cochrane (@EmCochranetv) April 25, 2026

Strengths and weaknesses

West’s ability to play at defensive end and defensive tackle is right up the Lions’ alley. They love players who can do more than one thing, and if he can confuse defenses by lining up inside and outside, that’s great. While he’s a fine run defender, his pass-rushing skills are what help him stand out a bit. According to PFF, he has 61 pressures in his career, averaging a 71.2 pass rush grade.