Gavin’s NFL Draft gem and germ of the week

Gem: Derrick Moore, EDGE – Michigan (Senior)

Derrick Moore has been a standout edge rusher for the Michigan this season, predominantly for his pass rushing abilities and dominant play disruption. 

Derrick Moore was a relatively low-ranked edge rusher on most boards up until the Senior Bowl, where he dominated the three preceding days of practice. Although he had a minimal impact in the game itself, Moore consistently won against others in individual and team drills. Most notably, Derrick Moore barreled through Miami’s starting left tackle, Markel Bell, who is a staggering 6’9” and 345 pounds. 

During the regular season, Derrick Moore recorded 10 sacks, good enough for fourth in the Big 10, 3 passes defended and 2 forced fumbles, which was ranked sixth in the Big 10.

Derrick Moore has an incredibly high motor and utilizes a mixture of long arms and heavy hands to create ample separation from tackles. His quick first step makes opposing linemen have to recover to defend the quarterback way faster than most. His versatility and athleticism makes him able to lineup from just about anywhere from inside the B-Gap to a wide-9 technique. 

However, Moore is not without his faults. While he uses his strengths in his physicality, he lacks an elite tool box of moves, which may make him one-dimensional as an NFL edge rusher. Also, he lacks the coverage ability that most other edge rushers have. He still has a lot to learn when playing in zone.

The team who selects Moore can be sure of one thing: His pass rushing upside is elite, and is a trait that can’t be ignored when evaluating him. While he certainly has some kinks to iron out, Moore has the potential to be a serious threat off of the edge in the NFL, despite his current third to fourth round grade.

Germ: Denzel Boston, WR – Washington (Redshirt Junior)

Denzel Boston’s frame and high upside as a true perimeter receiver is a big reason why he’s showing up in a lot of first round mock drafts, but I’m not totally sold on his versatility.

Boston is a key piece of the Washington Huskies’ offense that is still reeling from the loss of Michael Penix Jr., Rome Odunze, and Ja’Lynn Polk that made a run for the FBS National Championship in 2024. Despite not seeing regular season success in the form of wins, Boston was a bright spot on an otherwise stagnant team. 

The biggest concerns here for me are his ability, or lack thereof to consistently get open. Being a taller wide receiver does have it’s advantages, typically a longer catch radius and a physical advantage over the shorter cornerbacks, but this means nothing in the NFL if you can’t create separation. 

Boston was an elite red zone threat for the Huskies in 2025, being able to create catches in traffic for scores, but will he be able to recreate this success against a seasoned, physical defender like Christian Gonzalez or Pat Surtain II? That is the question that general managers across the league should be asking themselves.

A saving grace for a receiver like him would be a higher level of speed, but Boston struggles to get up in speed down the field. This will greatly harm his ability as a threat after the catch.

The upside here with Denzel Boston is undeniable, and the talent is there. However, on my board, his grade can’t be upwards of a high-end day two selection. His combine didn’t do enough to justify the selection, not running the 40-yard dash and having an ugly gauntlet performance. I have a suspicion that a team will likely take the chance on him in the first round, but I can’t get behind the hype.