The Detroit Lions may have unknowingly spoiled plans for the New York Jets — and former Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn — late in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Detroit used the No. 222 overall pick in the seventh round to select Tyre West, a defensive lineman from Tennessee Volunteers football. The selection originally came to the Lions as part of the 2024 trade that sent Za’Darius Smith to Detroit. While West is expected to begin his career as a depth option along the defensive line, the Lions had clearly shown interest in him before the draft, bringing him in for one of their pre-draft “Top 30” visits.

Detroit wasn’t the only team doing homework on West. The Jets had also evaluated him closely during the pre-draft process, and Justin Fried of The Jet Press even spoke with the defender about the possibility of joining the AFC East team.

Instead of heading to New York, however, West now finds himself in Detroit, where the Lions will try to develop his potential and see how he fits into their defensive front.

Detroit adds another intriguing defensive lineman

By selecting West late in the draft, Detroit may have quietly taken a player who could have been on Glenn’s radar for the Jets. Although the pick came in the final round, West possesses traits that could make him worth monitoring during training camp and preseason.

According to draft analyst Lance Zierlein of NFL.com, West has physical tools that give him a chance to compete for a role along the defensive line if he continues to develop.

West finished his college career with four sacks, one forced fumble, one pass breakup, and 7.5 tackles for loss at Tennessee. His final season in 2025 was somewhat limited, as he appeared in only 12 games and did not receive a large number of snaps, which may have prevented him from drawing more attention during the draft process.

Still, Detroit will get an extended look at the young defender as the team searches for additional depth along a defensive front that has dealt with injuries in recent seasons.

Part of Detroit’s 2026 defensive additions

West was one of two defensive linemen selected by the Lions in the 2026 draft, joining Skylar Gill-Howard. Earlier in the draft, Detroit also added linebacker Jimmy Rolder and defensive back Keith Abney II, while second-round pick Derrick Moore strengthened the team’s edge-rushing group.

With several new defensive pieces added through the draft, Detroit’s defensive coaching staff — including coordinator Kelvin Sheppard — now has more options to evaluate as preparations for the upcoming season begin. Training camp and preseason will ultimately determine which of these newcomers carve out roles on the roster.