Coming out of high school, Derrick Moore was a four-star who committed to the Michigan Wolverines in December 2021. After spending four seasons at Ann Arbor, the edge rusher, Moore, will remain in the Great Lakes State for his next chapter in the NFL with the Detroit Lions. 

Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell got the much-needed help in the pass-rush unit by selecting Moore as their 44th overall pick in round two of the 2026 NFL Draft. 

This was only possible as Campbell’s program struck a deal with the New York Jets to move up in the 2026 NFL draft. The Lions moved up from No.50 overall to No.44 to select Moore. In return, they sent the New York Jets picks No.50 and No.128 overall. 

This trade-up comes with another gift for Moore. The Baltimore, Maryland, native joins fellow Michigan Wolverine and star edge rusher ‌Aidan Hutchinson, who will lead the unit. 

Moore did not cross paths with Hutchinson, who got drafted the year he joined Michigan. But coming from the same college will boost Moore’s confidence to tread in the pro league. Last year, Hutchinson made a record in Detroit’s 34-10 win over the Cleveland Browns.

He finished with four tackles and two sacks. It marked his third consecutive game with at least one sack. The Michigan alum maintained the streak with the next game against Kansas. 

Moore will be joining Hutchinson after racking up 24.5 tackles for loss and 21 sacks through his 53 games played at Michigan. The 2025 captain with the first-team All-Big Ten honors put up 62 solo tackles, broke up eight passes, and forced three fumbles. 

Moore earned a 92.4 PFF pass-rush grade, which ranked 8th among 852 qualified edge defenders.

How Does Derrick Moore Fit In With the Detroit Lions?

Moore’s addition addresses a major need for the Lions after Al-Quadin Muhammad. After finishing second on the team with 11 sacks last season, he departed in free agency for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The transition process for Moore will be smooth, as Michigan's defensive scheme is very NFL-friendly.

Whether it’s from a three-point stance or standing up, Moore brings versatility as a pass rusher. So, he offers the flexibility for the Lions. However, he is not expected to be used as a SAM linebacker.

Even though he was a quiet leader in Michigan, he holds a 'team first' mindset. Moore will be grinding to allow his teammates to succeed.

“Having another body who can literally spell Hutch in that rush rotation, when you line up in nickel and sub-defense, a guy who can line up opposite (Hutchinson), (and) a guy who can line up inside," Holmes shared the plan how they want to use Moore. "Shep (defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard) is going to put the guys in the best position to do what they do best."

The Lions' trading up for Moore was just a small indication of how much they believe in his abilities.

How do you think Moore will contribute to Detroit's defense? Share your thoughts.

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Written by

Samvruth Raj

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar