Why the Lions’ second-round pick from Michigan fits perfectly in their defense

ALLEN PARK -- The worst-kept concealed wrong nan shot world was that nan Detroit Lions needed to reside their violative tackle and separator rusher extent betwixt their first 2 picks of this year’s NFL draft.

On Day 1, nan Lions picked Clemson violative tackle Blake Miller astatine No. 17 overall. On Day 2, they made a move, trading pinch nan New York Jets to jump from No. 50 to No. 44 and return Michigan walk rusher Derrick Moore.

Lions wide head Brad Holmes has faced a batch of disapproval successful caller years for nan team’s deficiency of beardown separator rushers to play alongside prima Aidan Hutchinson. Since Day 2 of past year’s draft, Holmes has been clear astir what he wants successful an separator rusher.

“He’s sewage to triumph rushes, he’s sewage to group edges,” Holmes said past April. “That’s what he’s sewage to do. However, he’s going to triumph rushes, whether it’s done pocket, done long-arming, if he tin move velocity to power, if he tin – if he has nan instincts, he has nan craftiness pinch his hands, moreover if he doesn’t person apical juice, but you tin still triumph rushes.

That explanation fits Moore perfectly.

Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 255 pounds, Moore has awesome size and length. His tally defense still needs immoderate work, truthful protect statement coach Kacy Rodgers will thief him create there. Still, Moore already has a assortment of moves, including a textbook bull rush, that thief him get sacks and create pressure.

Pro Football Focus gave Moore an wide people of 89.9, pinch a 92.4 for walk rushing and a 19.8% walk unreserved triumph rate. His tally defense people came successful astatine 76.3.

In his past 3 seasons astatine Michigan, Moore ne'er had much than six sacks successful a year.

Per Sports Reference, Moore’s champion play astatine Michigan was successful 2025, erstwhile he recorded 19 solo tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, 3 passes defensed, 1 forced fumble, and 41 full pressures. That capacity earned him a spot connected nan 2025 First-team All-Big Ten. Moore played 4 seasons astatine Michigan and was portion of their 2023 nationalist title team.

Adding Moore gives nan Lions a three-down subordinate who tin subordinate nan separator rusher rotation arsenic a rookie aliases moreover commencement correct distant other Hutchinson. The separator group now includes Hutchinson, Moore, D.J. Wonnum, and Payton Turner, who some signed one-year deals successful free agency.

The Lions besides person Tyler Lacy, Ahmed Hassanein, and versatile defender Levi Onwuzurike.

The threat of a subordinate for illustration Moore connected Detroit’s protect statement should make teams deliberation doubly astir double-teaming Hutchinson, which intends much one-on-one opportunities for nan Pro Bowler. It will decidedly thief nan Lions push nan pouch and get location to nan opposing backmost amended than successful caller years.

Moore has acquisition playing successful different alignments, making him 1 of nan astir polished and pro-ready players astatine his position this year. He whitethorn not beryllium nan fastest, but his power, technique, and shot IQ make him a valuable summation for nan Lions.

• Mel Kiper touts Michigan edge’s consistency aft Lions move up for pick
• 2026 NFL draft: Detroit Lions waste and acquisition up for Michigan DE Derrick Moore
• ‘Made successful a lab’: Clemson coach knew Lions first-round prime was typical from time one
• 2026 NFL draught Rounds 2-3 unrecorded updates: Detroit Lions waste and acquisition up for Michigan edge
• New Lions OT was watching Dan Campbell clips past night, fresh to tally done a wall