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COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND - NOVEMBER 22, 2025: Derrick Moore #8 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates during the second half against the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium on November 22, 2025 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
To kick off Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions started with a bang by trading up and selecting Michigan EDGE Derrick Moore at pick 44. The two biggest needs fans clamored for general manager Brad Holmes to address in the draft were offensive tackle and edge defender, and both were addressed immediately.
What did the Lions give up to move up to pick 44? Nothing too crazy, trading away their second-round pick (50) and one of their fourth-round picks (128) to move up. To me, that is a solid deal to move up ahead of the Baltimore Ravens, who took EDGE Zion Young with the next pick, so perhaps the Lions had an inkling the Ravens would take Moore and didn’t want to miss out on him.
Did the Lions make the right pick with the trade, or did they reach for someone who was projected to be picked later in Day 2?
Roster impact
You have competition now at the opposite EDGE position next to Aidan Hutchinson to see who can be the starter. The team signed DJ Wonnum in free agency to give them a solid run defender on the EDGE, but he wasn’t the pass rusher fans hoped to get. Moore primarily focuses on the pass rush, which is something the Lions have needed on the team to give them pressure all around.
He could very well be the starting EDGE if the team believes he can do it all, but I could see Wonnum being the starter to get Moore adjusted to the NFL style of play. This helps the Lions as the depth behind Wonnum and Hutchinson was thin, and now the team can have a solid rotation of three players. I wouldn’t be shocked if the team drafts another, but if they don’t, they have good choices on the roster.
College career
He was a four-year player at Michigan, playing in at least 12 games each season, totaling 53 games with 23 starts. He was voted team captain in 2025, and it was the best year of his career at Michigan. In total, he had 95 tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss, 21 sacks, eight pass deflections with three forced fumbles and recoveries, taking one to the house. Last season, he was ranked 16th according to PFF for EDGE defensive grade (89.9) and a 92.4 pass rush grade, tied for ninth with first-round pick Rueben Bain Jr.
During his time at Michigan, he was a three-time All-Big Ten selection, starting as an honorable mention from the media in 2023 and the coaches in 2023 and 2024. He improved and moved up to the first team for the coaches in 2025, with the second team in the media. He was the team’s best pass rusher in 2025 and won the defensive MVP for their postseason team awards.
Strengths and weaknesses
Where Moore shines is rushing the passer, hands down. He excels due to his size at 6-foot-3, weighing 255 pounds, using that size and weight to bull rush the tackle and put pressure on the quarterback. He can read plays well as screens, and trick plays aren’t going to fool him as easily as they would with others.
Where he struggles is getting off blocks as he tries to beat the blocker as much as possible instead of quickly trying something else or moving on. Because of his size, he isn’t the fastest guy, so sometimes that hurts him and makes things take longer than they should. He doesn’t have the quickness off the snap like Hutchinson does, which doesn’t give him a quick advantage or play on the tackle.
First WOLVERINE drafted in the 2026 NFL draft.
Good luck with the Lions Derrick Moore. pic.twitter.com/03Yp4gpcb8
— Michigan Metal(@Metaleka_) April 25, 2026
Overall
When it comes to the pick, it was a good choice by the Lions to give them another pass rusher to pair with Hutchinson. The team doesn’t have another powerful pass rusher who can push the other side of the offensive line. With Hutchinson laying the pressure on one side, Moore can bring it from the other and have offenses start having to respect him more. This also helps the interior defensive line, which has been doing its best to supply pressure and give the defense more of an identity on the line.
The only thing I do question is the trade to move up. The trade itself wasn’t bad, but it does feel like a little bit of a reach because Moore was projected to be a late-round two, early-round three pick. Clearly, the team wanted to move ahead of the Ravens to make sure they got their guy, but that’s two picks so far that Detroit made a little bit earlier than expected. Overall, it was a great idea to take an EDGE to pair with Hutchinson, and Moore was the best pass-rushing EDGE left, which the team needed to focus on. Now the fans can calm down, and I’m sure Holmes will have something to say to the media after facing criticism for years.
Grade: B+
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