Derrick Moore is officially a Lion, getting snagged by Detroit after a trade up from 50th overall to 44th overall. General manager Brad Holmes has been drafting for need, something he said he wanted to avoid relying on too much in his pre-draft availability, but he's also been taking really great players at those positional needs.
It's the best of both worlds for Lions fans that were hoping to see some help in the Lions' trenches on both sides of the ball, with Blake Miller landing with the Lions as their likely Day 1 starter at right tackle in 2026. Moore slots in as a starter on Day 1 at the edge, as well.
Chris Peterson, a writer for FanSided's Michigan site, GBM Wolverine, had nothing but rave reviews for the Lions' newest edge rusher:
"Moore is one of the most underrated pass rushers in the 2026 NFL Draft. He had 24.5 career sacks, including 10.5 last season, even though he barely played above 50 percent of the snaps. He's effective against the run, would be better in a 4-3 defense, but will add value as a pass rusher right away, with starter-level potential."
Lions might've gotten a steal in Moore in 2nd round of draft
Moore is a sneaky great get for defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard's toolbox thanks to his versatility and power at the edge. He also stood out at the Senior Bowl, running over offensive linemen in drills consistently and piecing together some highlight-reel worthy wins over that weekend.
Oh my Derrick Moore😳 pic.twitter.com/VRi7mEZq44
— PFF College (@PFF_College) January 27, 2026
Holmes is clearly a fan of the pick, telling reporters following the 2nd round, "We've been pretty clear about what the requirements are at that position for us, and he fits that. He's a physical player, he can set hard edges, his pass rush has greatly improved."
READ MORE: Lions 2026 NFL Draft tracker: Full list of picks, roster needs, targets, and more
A big question now for the Lions is how Sheppard will utilize Moore. Holmes mentioned in his post-pick availability that Sheppard's flexibility with players and their respective skills and "superpowers" are what make this defense potentially dangerous, and even more so with Moore added to the roster.
He can do a little bit of everything at the position, and his potential pairing with Hutchinson in spurts projects to be powerful.
For their first edge rusher pick within the first two rounds since taking Hutchinson back in 2022, Moore is a great selection.
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