Michigan senior edge rusher Derrick Moore declared for the 2026 NFL Draft Saturday afternoon. Ahead of the Wolverines’ Citrus Bowl rendezvous with Texas, Moore became the first player from the Michigan football team to declare.
In a draft that will likely end the Wolverines’ seven-year streak of having a player selected in the first round, Moore will likely be the first off the board from Michigan. The former top-100 recruit became a starter last season, but fell behind then-seniors Josaiah Stewart and TJ Guy in production. This year, everything finally came together for Moore.
Moore’s 10 sacks this season vaulted him into the Wolverines’ record book: 10th most all time in a single season and eighth most for a career with 21. Moore had a particularly dominant three-game stretch against Washington, Michigan State and Purdue, in which he recorded two sacks in each game.
Moore’s Saturday announcement was mostly a formality as he is out of eligibility and accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl Tuesday. After ending his season with only a single tackle against Ohio State, the Senior Bowl gives Moore an additional opportunity to vie for a draft selection before April rolls around.
