Derrick Moore is an edge rusher and 2026 NFL Draft prospect who spent four seasons at the University of Michigan. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Moore was a four-star recruit and one of the top edge prospects nationally in the 2022 class, choosing the Wolverines over Oklahoma, Georgia, Alabama, Notre Dame, and Ohio State. He saw immediate action as a true freshman and recorded two sacks in his debut season before developing into a key contributor as Michigan won the national championship in 2023, posting 34 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, and 5.0 sacks and earning his first All-Big Ten Honorable Mention recognition. He added 23 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, and 4.0 sacks in 2024 with another honorable mention selection. His 2025 senior season was his best, as he was voted team captain, named Michigan's Defensive Player of the Year and Bo Schembechler MVP, and recorded 30 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and 10.0 sacks while earning second-team All-Big Ten honors and generating an 89.9 PFF overall grade. He finished his career with 95 tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss, and 21 sacks across 53 games.
Standing 6 feet 4 inches and approximately 255 to 260 pounds and clocking a 4.65-second 40-yard dash at the combine, Moore is a powerful, physically imposing edge defender whose bull rush and ability to collapse the pocket with sustained leg drive have been the consistent anchors of his pass-rush profile throughout his college career. He sets a hard edge in run support, plays with genuine physicality and toughness, and his senior-season breakout to double-digit sacks in Big Ten competition validated the ability his coaches had praised since his arrival. The concerns center on a limited counter-move repertoire that relies heavily on power rather than technical variety, adequate but not elite bend around the corner, and a pass-rush plan that can become predictable against NFL tackles with superior anchor and footwork. He projects as a mid Day 2 selection who can contribute immediately as a power-based edge rusher and develop over time into a reliable starter in a 4-3 base front.
