The Lions Picked a Former Baseball Player Who Might Actually Be Good
The Lions used their fourth-round pick on Michigan linebacker Jimmy Rolder, and honestly? This might be the most Lions move ever. A guy with limited starting experience who had to pivot to baseball when his high school shut down football because of COVID. But here’s the thing that’ll surprise you: the tape says he can actually play.
Rolder caught Mike MacDonald’s eye when MacDonald was Michigan’s defensive coordinator. You know, before he left to fix Baltimore’s defense and make us all wonder what could have been. After two years on special teams, Rolder worked his way into the rotation and eventually led the Wolverines in tackles in 2025.
What the Lions Are Getting
Despite the light resume, Rolder shows real instincts in run defense. He’s gap sound, has sideline-to-sideline range, and moves cleanly through traffic. The concerns? His limited length causes problems when linemen get their hands on him, and he can get overaggressive at times.
But the guy can cover tight ends and turn and run, which makes him a natural fit for the WILL linebacker spot. His tackling technique is solid, and he rarely misses. Plus, he’s got the pursuit skills to be dangerous on special teams.
The character stuff checks out too. Three-time All-Academic Big Ten, and when the Lions called to tell him he was drafted, he was volunteering at a charity golf event. His stepdad is former Dolphins lineman Scott Kehoe, so football intelligence runs in the family.
Where He Fits in Allen Park
The Lions now have six linebackers, which is typically their minimum for the regular season. Jack Campbell has the MIKE spot locked down, and Derrick Barnes looks like the SAM. But with Alex Anzalone gone, the WILL position is wide open.
Barnes will likely get first crack when they run two-linebacker sets. But in three-linebacker packages? Malcolm Rodriguez was the early favorite, but now he’s got competition from Rolder.
Dane Brugler thinks Rolder needs to control his overaggressive tendencies but has the instincts and athleticism to make NFL plays. Lance Zierlein goes further, saying if you trust the tape over the experience, Rolder profiles as a future starter.
For a fourth-round pick on a team that’s built through the draft, that’s exactly what you want to hear. Rolder has the developmental ceiling to compete for significant snaps during his rookie deal. And yes, I know what you’re thinking. We’ve heard this song before. But sometimes the late-round linebacker with limited college experience turns into something special.
Is Rolder the next diamond in the rough or just another developmental project that’ll frustrate us for three years? Drop your hot takes below.
