Tyrus Wheat offers Lions an intriguing developmental prospect at defensive end

In Detroit, Wheat will join a defensive line where he gets to play alongside the likes of Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport. It's likely that Wheat will merely be a complementary piece for the Lions, but he could certainly push for some snaps if he shows up as much as he has during training camp and the preseason.

At the very least, the Lions liked him enough to give him a shot on the roster out of the league cut period. It will be fascinating to see if he can parlay that opportunity into something tangible in the long-term with Detroit.

Wheat fits Lions' mindset with special teams focus and toughness

Not only could Wheat eventually play some kind of role for Detroit's defense, he figures to be an immediate special teams contributor. After making the Cowboys in 2023, Wheat saw plenty of snaps on that side of the ball and was most regularly a contributor on special teams in Dallas.

Despite that, Wheat does offer a relentless motor. The Lions are a franchise that has been built recently by players who have never relented, and it's clear they are getting another fit in Wheat. As Dan Rogers showed in a clip, Wheat hustles to the whistle, as when he chased a running back down field for a tackle.

The hustle of Wheat on that paricular lost play is notable, and just the kind of thing that could endear him to special teams coordinator Dave Fipp and Dan Campbell. Even if he doesn't see the field much on defense, Wheat is likely to play a big role for a special teams group that recently took a hit with the loss of linebacker Ezekiel Turner. Speed and physicality play a big role there, which is what Wheat will bring.

It's easy to see why the Lions were intrigued by Wheat, and his addition proves the Lions want to bring a young player with some NFL experience along at the position. Now, Wheat only has to seize the major opportunity he's been given.