Senior Bowl standout Derrick Moore is a homegrown fit for Lions' defensive front

As long as Brad Holmes has pushed the buttons, the Lions have shown a clear blueprint for building their defensive front: investing in power, toughness, and players who understand how to win in the trenches.

Aidan Hutchinson became the face of that approach when Detroit selected him early in the draft, and now a few years later, Michigan pass rusher Derrick Moore presents an opportunity to double down on that philosophy, keeping a proven in-state defender right where he belongs.

One of the most impressive edge defenders at the Senior Bowl, Moore has consistently flashed a physical profile that translates cleanly to NFL early downs.

He’s a power-laden rusher who plays with heavy hands, excellent play strength, and a clear understanding of how to set the edge against the run, and that baseline alone gives him immediate value in a Lions defense that asks its edge players to be complete, not situational.

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. His ability to convert speed to power has been one of his most consistent traits throughout the week -- check out this rep.

But the next layer of Moore’s game is still forming, and that’s where Detroit’s vision comes into play. His hand usage is improving, and he’s beginning to show flashes of sequencing -- mirroring his hands and feet to counter once blockers sit down on his initial power.

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The speed element is there, even if it isn’t fully weaponized yet, and with refined timing and a more diverse rush plan, Moore has the tools to grow into a well-rounded edge defender rather than a one-dimensional power rusher.

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.

Through the first portion of Senior Bowl week, Moore has looked comfortable against NFL-caliber competition, reinforcing his Day 2 projection. For the Lions, he checks multiple boxes: scheme fit, physical profile, and developmental upside.