The Detroit Lions made a move to keep their selection local in the 2026 NFL Draft, Day 2.
The Lions selected Michigan defensive end Derrick Moore with the No. 44 overall pick. Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft started on Friday, April 24. The Lions entered the day with one pick in the second round (at No. 50 overall).
The Lions had no third-round picks after trading both 2026 third-round picks during the 2025 draft. To select Moore, the Lions moved up to No. 44 with a trade with the New York Jets.
Lions Trade Up to Draft Moore
As first reported by NFL insider Albert Breer, the Lions selected Derrick Moore. Detroit traded the No. 50 and 128 picks to the New York Jets to move up in the second round.
Per NFL Network’s Mike Garafalo, the Lions traded up to No. 44, sending picks No. 50 and 128 to the New York Jets.
Moore’s College Career
Moore recorded 30 tackles and 10 sacks as a senior with the Wolverines in 2025, serving as a team captain. He appeared in all 15 games in Michigan’s 2023 national championship season. He is the sixth former Michigan defensive lineman taken in the last three NFL drafts.
Moore and Aidan Hutchinson could create a Wolverines’ edge-rushing tandem for the Lions.
Looking at Other Lions Draft Picks
The Lions selected Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller with the No. 17 overall pick in the first round on Thursday, April 24. Miller was a four-year starter at right tackle for the Tigers and is likely to play the same position for the Lions in 2026. Miller fills a much-needed positional gap on the roster.
Miller rejected comparisons to other offensive tackles taken in the draft. Miller said that everyone has different strengths and weaknesses and no two people are ever going to be the same.
Remaining Needs for Detroit
Detroit still has needs at linebacker and in the secondary. It’s unclear which position the team next aims to bolster first through the draft.
- Detroit entered Friday with seven picks in Rounds 4-7.
- The Lions only possess one pick over the next two rounds.
- NFL insider Albert Breer says the Lions have “sniffed around” with the intention of moving up in the draft.
Day 3 will come with a flurry of moves for the Lions. With the Lions only possessing one pick over the next two rounds, its possible that GM Brad Holmes will trade some future capital for the right to move up on Day 2 of the draft.