It feels like no matter who the Detroit Lions brought on to add to their pass rush this offseason, some fans would be disappointed.
The following is just one of a many similar criticisms that have been lobbed at Detroit regarding their offseason, courtesy Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport:
"The fact is that until we see otherwise, Hutchinson remains the clear focal point of the front. Star safety Brian Branch is working his way back from an Achilles tear and iffy at best for Week 1. Cornerback Terrion Arnold's status for 2026 is in doubt following an offseason arrest on serious charges, per multiple reports, and any extended absence would leave the Detroit secondary exposed. If the pass defense is a liability again, the Lions will be pressed into trying to win shootouts—again."
Bottom line is, general manager Brad Holmes remains steadfast in his roster construction habits. He doesn't blow teams out of the water with record-breaking free agency signings, nor has he made any splashy trades since acquiring Jared Goff for Matthew Stafford. At this point in his tenure as the teams' GM, it's clear that he wants to keep building a contender from the ground up.
That's what made their selection of Derrick Moore in the 2nd round of the 2026 NFL draft make so much sense. He's a Michigan talent (so, literally homegrown in a sense) that Detroit is bringing on following a 10 sack season for the Wolverines. And, his one job in his rookie season is to be the best co-star possible to one of the NFL's best edge rushers in Aidan Hutchinson.
Despite pushback about this pick, or about the Lions' insistence that this pick was enough to address their gaping hole at the edge opposite Hutchinson, it does seem like Moore is about to soar in training camp and headed into the preseason.
Moore should be preparing to prove everyone wrong in training camp
Let's take a look back at how Moore fared in the Senior Bowl, and how former FanSided contributor Ryan Fowler viewed Moore as a prospect for the Lions, specifically:
"Where Moore becomes especially intriguing is in his developmental upside as a pass rusher. Right now, he wins primarily with power -- long-arm rushes, bull rushes, and the ability to collapse the pocket into the quarterback’s lap. At the Senior Bowl, that approach has already caused problems for offensive tackles, particularly in one-on-one periods where Moore’s leverage and lower-body strength stand out."
He continued, "Overall, pairing with Hutchinson would create a natural ecosystem for Moore to develop, as playing opposite an established, high-level edge rusher would afford Moore more isolated looks, fewer chips, and cleaner rush lanes -- ideal conditions for a young defender still expanding his pass-rush repertoire while his play strength paves the way for snaps on early downs."
READ MORE: Analysts call on the Lions to answer lingering questions in training camp
Moore is coming in after getting snagged in what can only be described as a great year for finding solid depth at the edge if you were picking outside of the top-15 of this past draft. David Bailey, Arvell Reese, and Rueben Bain Jr. were never going to fall to the Lions (although Bain nearly did), but they were still left with plenty of decent options at 44th overall - Moore included.
Watching tape of Moore's final year with Michigan, you can't help but get excited about his relentless motor, his ability to get his hands on the football, and his speed launching from the line of scrimmage. Obviously, he's got to get accustomed to NFL-caliber offensive linemen getting in his way. But, with a healthier D-line around him and Hutchinson headed into this season, he may be in for a huge rookie year on a contending squad.
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