Your New Ford Field Pass Rusher Has Some Serious Bite
Friday night brought us another draft pick, and this time it’s Michigan edge defender Derrick Moore heading to Allen Park. Look, if you’ve been watching Wolverines football, you know the name. If you haven’t, here’s what you need to know about our latest addition to the Honolulu Blue.
He Was a Terror Getting After Quarterbacks
Moore might be built more for power and stopping the run, but don’t sleep on what he did as a pass rusher for Michigan in 2025. The man had the highest pressure percentage in the entire Big Ten at 17.5%, according to Dane Brugler. That’s not accident.
Here’s what The Ringer had to say: “He was ridiculously effective when asked to pin his ears back and get after the passer, finishing last season with a 36 percent win rate in true pass rush situations, per PFF, which ranked 10th among edge players with 100 pass rush reps.”
Oh, and his PFF pass rushing grade in 2025 was 92.4. Yeah, that’ll work.
Senior Bowl Domination Was Real
Moore absolutely destroyed people down in Mobile during 2026 Senior Bowl practices. We’re talking about a guy who bulldozed a 6’9″, 345-pound tackle like he was a blocking dummy. He was blowing up tight ends and making offensive linemen look foolish.
Multiple outlets listed him as a Day 1 winner from the practices. When you’re standing out in that kind of talent pool, you’re doing something right.
Run Defense? Yeah, He’s Got That Covered
Shocking news: the Lions drafted someone who can actually set the edge in the run game. Moore uses his length and physical approach to attack blockers, and it shows up on tape.
He posted a 76.3 PFF grade as a run defender last year, an improvement from his 65.3 mark in his other year in the starting lineup for the Wolverines. But the demeanor and grit? That’s already there, and it fits what Detroit wants to do up front.
The Hardware Collection Speaks for Itself
Despite not being a full-time starter in 2023, Moore earned Defensive Player of the Week honors five times and got honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition. Then came the breakout 2025 season with First-Team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches, Second-Team from the media, Michigan’s Defensive Player of the Year, Bo Schembechler Most Valuable Player, team captain, and six Player of the Week awards.
That’s a resume that gets attention.
The Story Behind the Player
Moore’s path wasn’t easy. Growing up in Baltimore with his father spending 21 years in prison during his childhood, but that rough start helped shape who he became.
“He has a very high emotional intelligence,” former Michigan interim coach Biff Poggi explained. “First of all, he’s smart. Don’t let his being quiet fool you from his innate intelligence. He knows that these opportunities are rare, so he is going to be one of those athletes with an incredibly valuable portfolio of assets, because that’s how he’s wired.”
The man doesn’t live flashy, doesn’t wear fancy clothes, and understands what this opportunity means. That’s exactly the kind of mentality that works in Detroit.
So are we looking at another steal or just setting ourselves up for more heartbreak? Drop your take below.
