Our grade, analysis for Lions' second-round draft pick Derrick Moore

Moore, 23, was a two-year starter at defensive end for Michigan, with whom he spent his entire college career. He showed steady improvement each season, increasing his career high in pressures each year and culminating in a 41-pressure, 10-sack season for the Wolverines in 2025, when he was also named a team captain. He was named First-Team All-Big Ten and was a team captain. He had 37 pressures the year prior, 26 in 2023 and 14 as a freshman in 2022.

In 2023, when Michigan won the national title, Moore had 15 appearances with 34 total tackles, six tackles for loss and five sacks.

Moore (6-foot-3⅞, 255 pounds) is a well-rounded defender with good length (33⅜-inch arms) who can set an edge and is powerful as a pass rusher. He did minimal athletic testing during the pre-draft process and did not qualify for a Relative Athletic Score. NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein comped Moore to Tampa Bay Buccaneers edge Yaya Diaby, who has 19 sacks over his first three NFL seasons.

Stylistically, Moore is a good fit opposite of Hutchinson. Detroit likes players who can set the edge, and his bull rush fits the Lions' "crush the can" philosophy. Moore will still need to continue improving his run defense to see the field on early downs at the next level, but coupled with the addition of DJ Wonnum in free agency, the Lions now have a formidable duo to split reps opposite of Hutchinson in 2026, with Moore possessing great upside.

After watching Holmes thrive in the draft via his best-player-available philosophy, we're hesitant to blindly grade a selection based on filling a need. But again, Moore fits what the Lions are trying to do and has an excellent track record of past production, plus high football character. Holmes identified the player he wanted and decisively made the move to land him — all while filling a need, and according to the Rich Hill trade chart, getting exactly even value on the move.

Grade: A-

nbianchi@detroitnews.com

@nolanbianchi

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Derrick Moore, Michigan edge, fills need for Lions; instant grade here