From playing the same positions, to playing on the same college team together, and now they will play on the same NFL franchise together. Derrick Moore and Aidan Hutchinson are turning out to be the Michigan Wolverines duo that no one saw coming. 

In the 2026 NFL Draft, Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell made their choice for the No.44 overall pick in round two of the 2026 NFL Draft, and that choice was edge pass rusher, Derrick Moore. 

Moore has looked up to Hutchinson all along. Talking to the Detroit News, this is what he said:

“To be honest with you, that was one right there that I – I’m definitely excited about playing with Hutch. When Hutch was leaving [Michigan], I watched him my whole freshman year, even my sophomore year."

Moore further talked about how he wanted to break the record set by Hutchinson.

"Everything was pretty much dedicated to breaking his sack record. I wasn’t able to do it, I got close, but I’m definitely excited to be playing next to Hutch."

Hutchinson, a former Wolverine alum, had made his feelings clear when he found out that the Lions had drafted another edge from Ann Arbor. “Another Mich (Michigan) Man in the building. Love the pick,” he wrote on X on April 24.

In the 2021 season, Hutchinson recorded 14 sacks, which remains unbroken till today. Moore came close to Hutchinson’s record with 10 sacks in the 2025 season, but fell short by four. 

Apart from the 10 sacks, Moore started 12 games and tallied 30 tackles, of which 10.5 tackles came for a loss. The edge pass rusher also earned first-team All-Big Ten honors and won the 2023 National Championship, led by Jim Harbaugh. 

Now Moore will pair up with his ex-teammate in the Motor City to help the Detroit Lions get back into the playoffs, which they missed in 2025. 

What Grade Did the Lions Receive for This Move?

The Athletic analysts, Nick Baumgardner and Scott Dochterman, gave this pick the letter grade “A”. 

“Detroit moved up six spots and jumped Moore’s former college defensive coordinator, new Ravens head coach Jesse Minter, to snag the explosive, long-armed edge rusher. This pick makes so much sense—Moore will add juice to a defensive front that needed someone to win one-on-ones opposite Aidan Hutchinson.” 

It is important to note that the Lions did move up six spots to No.44 by striking a deal with the New York Jets, sending No.50 and a round 4 pick 128th overall on the other side. 

Moving up six spots, Holmes and Campbell jumped the Ravens at No. 45. This maneuver blocked former Michigan defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, now Baltimore’s head coach, from reuniting with Moore, ensuring the elite pass rusher remained in Michigan.

Moore is from Baltimore, Maryland. There was a high possibility that the Ravens would have gone in for the edge pass rusher if the Lions did not trade up. 

Known for his strength and explosiveness, Moore will pair up with Hutchinson, making that pass rush unit menacing for 2026. 

Do you think they can be a good duo for the Lions?

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Written by

Samvruth Raj

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi