Moore was a very highly-touted recruit who enjoyed a plethora of Power 4 offers before committing to the University of Michigan. Moore is also an incredibly loyal player, as he stayed at the University of Michigan for his entire collegiate career. He appeared in over 40 games for the Wolverines, only ever missing 1 with a groin injury. He has consistently improved during his time in Ann Arbor, where he won a National Championship in 2023 and posted a breakout season in 2025 with 10.5 sacks, rightfully earning Moore First-Team All-Big 10 honors. 
Derrick Moore is a pass rusher first and foremost due to his hand control, bull rush, bend, burst, and get-off. His body control is good, especially for his size and his flexibility, which is something that not many edge rushers possess. There are absolutely zero injury questions, with only one game missed out of his over 40 appearances with the Wolverines. His abilities as a run defender leave a lot to be desired, as he has issues with misreading gaps, poor eye discipline, and below-average play recognition. Just as well, he did not exhibit any aptitude for pass coverage with undisciplined eyes, stiff movements, and grabby hands. His unrefined skill set often left him standing up and being anchored when playing against more polished, pro-ready tackles. Despite this, his physical foundation contains so many things that can’t be taught: his good get-off, his burst, bend, play speed, and toughness. These tools provide the kind of base that defensive coaches dream of building a great player on.
Scheme Fit and Team Fit:
Due to his athleticism and pass-rush ability, Moore is best suited for a base 4-3 defense. His burst off the line would allow him to climb to the quarterback very quickly, and not being asked to drop into coverage would further complement his strengths by maximizing his opportunities to get to the quarterback. For these reasons, Moore would thrive with the Detroit Lions. The Lions operated the most out of a base 4-3 defense, using a 4-3 front 60% of the time. This gives Moore the maximum number of snaps possible to use his physical gifts to cause chaos in the trenches, making Detroit a natural fit. For these reasons, the Houston Texans would be another great fit for Moore. Schematically, the Texans are a very basic defense, with the defensive line tasked with winning individual matchups to create pressure up front. Danielle Hunter is 31, and the Texans would be a great situation for Moore because he would play on a defense that suits his skill set, he would learn from two of the best edge rushers in the game, and he could step into a larger role in the coming years.
NFL Player Comp: Bud Dupree
Moore’s player comparison is Bud Dupree. They are similar in height, with Dupree being 6 ‘4 to Moore at 6’ 3 but they both weigh around 260 pounds and have similar builds, as well as both being known for their raw pass rush ability out of college and athletic traits.
Projection: League Average Starter
Moore needs serious development in run defense, and he needs to develop his rush moveset, as he is overly reliant on his bull rush right now. However, these are all problems that can be fixed with coaching, especially for someone with his physical gifts. He should be able to sustain a nice, healthy career as a starter in the NFL.
Grade and Round Projection: 4.5, mid to late second round
Moore’s final grade is a 4.5, and he will most likely be taken in the mid-to-late second round.
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