The film room is where Brad Holmes earns his money, and if you want to understand why he selected Michigan edge rusher Derrick Moore in the 2026 draft, you need to see what the all-22 tape shows. This isn’t about measurables or combine numbers. This is about what happens when the lights come on.
The Pride of Detroit crew broke down Moore’s college tape, studying games against USC and Washington from his final season in Ann Arbor. Finding college film is harder than tracking down authentic coney sauce recipes, but what they found should make Lions fans feel good about this pick.
The Versatility Factor
Moore isn’t just another pass rusher. He’s a chess piece that can move around the defensive line, someone who plays sound football on all three downs. Watch him set edges against the run and you’ll see violence with purpose. His eyes stay where they need to be, his technique stays clean, and he doesn’t take plays off.
But here’s where it gets interesting. There are clips of Moore dropping into zone coverage and looking comfortable doing it. That’s not something you see from every edge rusher, and it makes you wonder if the Lions have plans to use him at SAM linebacker in certain packages.
Pass Rush Upside
The back half of the film study focuses on Moore’s performance against Washington, where he was genuinely dominant in Michigan’s win. When it comes to getting after the quarterback, Moore has serious juice. The kind of burst and bend that translates to Sunday afternoons at Ford Field.
You can see why Holmes valued Moore over other prospects still on the board when the Lions made their selection. This isn’t a reach or a project player. This is a three-down contributor who can help immediately while developing into something more.
The tape doesn’t lie, and neither does Holmes’ track record. When he sees something in a player, he’s usually right. Moore looks like another example of that process working exactly as designed.
Think Moore was the right choice, or should Holmes have gone in a different direction? Let me know below.
