Lions add another Wolverine, selecting linebacker Jimmy Rolder in fourth round
Allen Park — The Detroit Lions started Day 3 of the 2026 draft, addressing one of the team’s thinnest areas of depth. With the No. 118 pick of the fourth round, the Lions selected Michigan linebacker Jimmy Rolder.
Rolder is the second Wolverine drafted by the Lions in as many days, following up edge defender Derrick Moore in the second round. They join Michigan alum Aidan Hutchinson on Detroit’s defense.
Measuring in at 6-foot-3, 238 pounds, Rolder is a high-end athlete who experienced a breakout season in 2025, racking up 73 tackles, 2.0 sacks and an interception in 12 games last season.
Versatile, he aligned in multiple spots across Michigan’s defense, including all three linebacker positions, along the line of scrimmage and flexed into the slot.
Rolder also has extensive special teams experience, although his role with those units was curtailed with an expanded defensive role the past two seasons.
In Detroit, Rolder figures to compete with Malcolm Rodriguez and Damone Clark for playing time as the third, weakside linebacker, paired with starters Jack Campbell and Derrick Barnes.
Below is what some of the national analysts wrote about Rolder in their scouting reports.
Dane Brugler, The Athletic
“A one-year starter at Michigan, Rolder played Will linebacker in former defensive coordinator Wink Martindale’s scheme. A former high school baseball recruit, he had trouble climbing the depth chart because of minor injuries and only became a starter early in the 2025 season, once coaches moved Jaishawn Barham to more of an edge rusher role. Rolder took advantage of the promotion and led the Wolverines in tackles during his final season.
“Given his relative lack of on-field experience, Rolder was a pleasant surprise on tape, because of his awareness and movement skills. He plays with multi-gap range, legit sideline-to-sideline speed and athletic upside in coverage. He isn’t explosive as a thumper but drops his firm pads into the ball carrier and rarely misses tackles (4.7 percent missed tackle rate in 2025).”
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com
“Rolder’s instincts and run-game consistency make it hard to believe he was only a one-year starter in college. He plays low and leveraged with violent hands to shock and slip off blocks. He finds the best routes to the run gap and maneuvers around traffic with efficiency to tighten angles to the ball-carrier. He plays with good awareness and change of direction in space but has average pursuit speed and coverage talent. Few linebackers in this draft finish tackles with the technique and consistency he displays. If you trust the tape and ignore his lack of experience, Rolder profiles as a future starting inside linebacker.”
Todd McShay, The Ringer
There’s a lot to like about what Rolder could develop into at the next level. He can play Mike, Will, or Sam in a 4-3 scheme. He’s instinctive, but his discipline isn’t quite there, so he might need a year as a special teams maven (where his awesome skill set, mentality, and tackling skills will stand out) and some rotational/sub-package work before he’s ready to compete for a starting job in the NFL. But he’s a future starter if he continues to track like he did throughout 2025.
I like Rolder a lot. Not sure he will be more valuable than Abney of Kilgore, but hey, if you can't second-guess a full-time GM, what fun is the draft?
This guy is a spark plug. Set his gap and watch him fire off. Good pick.