Tyrunn Walker saw a fit, even if the Detroit Lions have yet to explain what the new defensive tackle’s role will be with the franchise.

But what he knew -- that Ndamukong Suh, Nick Fairley and other defensive tackles thrived in the Lions system -- was enough to help convince him to choose Detroit as the team’s only outside free agent signing so far.

Walker chose the Lions over New England, which might seem surprising on its face. The Patriots were offering a multi-year deal where Detroit gave Walker a one-year contract. Of course, this could benefit Walker immensely if he has a strong season with the Lions after being mostly a rotational player during his first three years with New Orleans.

He was an important get for Detroit since he’ll be part of a group expected to help replace Suh and Fairley, both of whom left in free agency over the past week. Walker thinks the Lions fit him well -- and that his versatility on the line will be an asset.

“I backed up from Cam Jordan all the way to John Jenkins to Brodrick Bunkley,” Walker said. “I played all the positions on the D-Line because I was versatile.

“My production level, it went up every year. That’s basically all we talked about.”

They also talked a little bit about what they expect to be doing with Walker. He said he expects to be lining up next to Detroit’s other new acquisition, Haloti Ngata, and that the Lions told him they would not be playing much two-gap defense and would mostly be running one-gap using Ngata and Walker.

This would indicate that the Lions are probably not going to move to a 3-4 -- or at least not exclusively. It is highly possible the Lions end up using multiple fronts depending on opposing offenses and situations.

Other than that, though, he hasn’t been told much about what the plan is for the Detroit defense he’ll now play in. Right now, the 6-foot-3, 294-pounder could slide in as a starter since the Lions have Ngata and Walker as their two highest-profile interior linemen. Detroit will likely add another defensive tackle in free agency or the draft.

Playing next to Ngata was another potential benefit for Walker. He’s turning 25 this month and figures that while he’s playing with Ngata, he can learn from a player who has been one of the best in the league over the past decade.

And considering Walker has been only a rotational player to this point -- 28 tackles and 3.5 sacks -- there could be a lot to learn.

“I just listen. I just try to do as much of the things the coaches ask me to do and I put in the extra hours and extra work and that’s what I plan to do in Detroit,” Walker said. “I just try to listen, especially with those veteran guys, like a Haloti Ngata is going to be very, very important to my game because I’m going to pick his brain and I’m going to learn what he knows.

“I just like to be a student of the game.”