Kyle Van Noy spent two-and-a-half seasons with the Detroit Lions, but he never quite found his footing after the team drafted him 40th overall in 2014. Head coach Jim Caldwell and defensive coordinator Teryl Austin tried to use him in a traditional 4-3 role not suited for his diverse skill set, which in turn led to him appearing timid and insecure when on the field — further adding to the lack of trust he enjoyed from the coaching staff.
In 2016, despite being in the middle of his most successful season to that point, the team had enough: Detroit traded Van Noy and a seventh-round draft choice the following year to the New England Patriots for a sixth-round selection.