As the 23rd-ranked overall college recruit on ESPN’s 2022 list, Michigan defensive end Derrick Moore enters the 2026 NFL Draft, joining one of the deepest EDGE classes in recent years. Find out where Moore ranks and what his scouting report reveals.
Derrick Moore 2026 NFL Scouting Report
Measurables:
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 255 lbs.
Position: defensive end
School: Michigan, senior
More 2026 NFL Draft Profiles
Background:
A Baltimore, Maryland native, Derrick Moore attended St. Francis Academy, where he was the Maryland High School Player of the Year, recording 55 tackles and 12 sacks his senior year. In addition, Moore ended his senior campaign as the MVP of the Under Armour All-American Game with a two-sack performance.
The 4-star recruit received offers from Oklahoma, Georgia, Alabama, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, and Ohio State. Moore ultimately committed to play for Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines. As an incoming freshman, Moore wouldn’t be an immediate starter. NFL-bound Aidan Hutchinson had previously occupied the position. Filling Hutch’s role wouldn’t be an easy mission even for a more experienced player. Nonetheless, Moore appeared in all 14 games his freshman year.
He earned accolades from Harbaugh, who described Moore as “a fantastic player” and “really gifted athletically.”
Continuing to show steady improvement from year to year, Moore compiled a record of 95 tackles (62 solo), 23 TFLs, 21.0 sacks, eight PDFs, and three forced fumbles. In his sophomore and junior years, he earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors. As a senior in 2025, he was voted team captain. Finishing the year with an 89.9 overall grade from PFF. Moore played 440 snaps in 2025, recording 41 pressures.
Named Michigan’s Defensive Player of the Year, Moore was awarded the Bo Schembechler MVP title. As a first-team All-Big Ten honoree, he was selected for the East-West Shrine Bowl.
The NFL Combine
Known for his tenacity in rushing the passer, Moore is listed as the 53rd overall selection on the LWOS NFL Draft Big Board. Moore earned an impressive 78 Production grade at the Combine, ranking seventh among the 34 participating EDGE/defensive end prospects. NFL Analyst Lance Zierleinreferred to Moore as a “bull rush aficionado, piling up pressures and sacks.”
Michigan edge Derrick Moore (8) sacks Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. (2) during the first half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.
Strengths:
Superior bull rush artist who collapses pockets and reaches the quarterback
A strong physical tackler with solid finishing technique
Ability to set firm edges
Impressive football IQ
Anticipates well with good instincts and awareness of potential offensive shifts
Solid hand work
Versatile athlete who was used successfully in multiple alignments
Sharp improvement in senior-year sack count indicates a highly coachable player
Weaknesses:
Inconsistent run blocking and slower reaction times
Lacks urgency as a run defender
Lack of speed and first-step quickness hurt him as a run defender
Lacks bindability
Relies too heavily on power rather than speed
Final Thoughts:
Moore’s ability to rush the pass is his strong suit. Zierlein describes a prospect who “swallows quarterback and runners like a crashing wave once he’s close.” If he continues to develop his run defense effort and counter game, NFLdraftbuzz is predicting a high ceiling.
With so many talented defensive ends in this draft class, Moore could be selected later than he might have been in other years. His current projection suggests he could be taken off the board as soon as the 50th pick (second round), or possibly not until number 80 in the third round. Unfortunately, the depth of this EDGE draft class makes it more difficult to pinpoint.
Nonetheless, Moore is a solid pick for teams looking to acquire a talented EDGE in the second or third round, such as the Detroit Lions, the Tennessee Titans, or the Kansas City Chiefs.