They finally did it.
With their selection of Michigan edge rusher Derrick Moore in the second round of the 2026 NFL draft, the Detroit Lions did something they have not done since 2022: draft an edge rusher with a top 100 pick.
It was a needed move for a team that has been searching for a proper running mate opposite star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson for the entirety of his now five-year career. And while Moore easily profiles as the most obvious long-term option next to Hutchinson on this roster thanks to his draft position, he is still a rookie. And the Lions are gunning for a Super Bowl in 2026.
So, the question is, how much can we expect Moore to contribute to that goal out of the gate?
Well, general manager Brad Holmes said Moore will be “just to have another body” who can “spell” Hutchinson in the rush rotation. Let’s first consider the other guys in Detroit’s stable of edge rushers for a second.
Lions added depth with Moore pick
Hutchinson is an All-Pro caliber player, not much else needs to be said about him. The Lions signed D.J. Wonnum from the Carolina Panthers, who is coming off a three-sack campaign in 2025. He has two separate 8.0 sack seasons in 2021 and 2023 as a member of the Minnesota Vikings.
There’s enough NFL production from Wonnum to tab him as Detroit’s most likely No. 2 edge rusher entering Week 1 as it stands now, but he’s only on a one-year deal.
“I think they are good complements because they’re both physical players,” Holmes said of Wonnum and Moore.
“They’re a little bit different, a little bit different body types…They both set good edges, they both can rush outside, they both can rush inside, and they’re also both good teammates, too. I’m quite sure that DJ being the veteran of the group, I’m sure that he’s going to help Derrick a lot..”
The Lions also signed 2021 first-rounder Payton Turner, who did not play last year due to injury. 2025 sixth-rounder Ahmed Hassanein is also back after missing all of last season.
Beyond them, there’s inside-outside tweener Levi Onwuzurike coming off a torn ACL and 2026 seventh-rounder Tyre West.
So all in all, it seems like Moore has a pretty clear path to playing time if he can pick things up in a hurry. The Lions clearly have left that door open for him in some regard by only signing Wonnum– the only other semi-established veteran in the room other than Hutchinson— to a one-year deal.
And a big talking point about Moore throughout this draft process was him being perceived as a “high floor” player– someone who can come in and contribute right away. If the Lions see him the same way, it would make sense to project him as a key member of this rotation early in his career.
It sounds like they do.
“When you start talking about guys that have good floors or higher floors coming in, usually those guys are instinctive players, and that’s what he is,” Holmes said.
“He’s very instinctive in the run game and it matters because you talk about edge rusher– ‘Rush, rush, rush.’ Well yeah, we want to get to the quarterback, but you can’t just get gashed all the way downfield either. I think that’s a good component to his game that he’s going to bring.”
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Moore was a violent edge setter at Michigan with heavy hands that give him good pass-rush upside. As a senior, he led the Wolverines in sacks (10), tackles for loss (10.5) and forced fumbles (two). He led the Big 10 in pressure rate at 17.5%.
He could be an impactful run defender out of the gate with the tools to grow into a strong pass rusher. Moore measured in at 6-foot-4 and ⅜, 255 lbs and 33 ⅜ inch arms at the NFL combine, giving him prototypical edge rusher frame with the capability of kicking inside as well on some lighter pass-rush packages.
Any production alongside Hutchinson will be welcome. Though the Lions ranked fourth in the NFL in sacks with 49, their pass rush took a while to get there. Opponents frequently had plenty of time to throw, and the Lions’ average time-to-pressure of 2.92 seconds was slowest in the NFL.
That’s not going to do it in the modern NFL, especially if you’ve got Super Bowl aspirations like Detroit. The Lions might need Moore to be a productive player sooner rather than later for their defense to reach the level they want it to.
The sack production may not come right away, but at the very least, Moore will be looked to provide youth, athleticism and run defense to the Lions' edge room right away. And that should put him in line for plenty of playing time in 2026 if he stays healthy.
“[Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard] is going to put the guys in the best positions to do what they do best, and that’s what [Moore] showed on tape–he can set edges in the run game, he can rush outside, he can rush inside,” Holmes said. “I’m quite sure that’s how Shepp’s going to utilize him.”
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