Jimmy Rolder is a Classic Lions Pick, and That’s Not a Bad Thing
With their fourth-round pick the Detroit Lions continued to tick away at their biggest needs. With the 118th pick, the Lions selected Michigan linebacker Jimmy Rolder.
Here are five things you need to know about the Lions’ newest linebacker. And yes, I know what you’re thinking. Another Michigan guy? Well, at least this one can tackle.
He’s Only a One-Year Starter, But Showed Great Instincts in 2025
Rolder was with the Michigan Wolverines for four years, but he was only a starter in 2025. That lack of experience could lead some players to make mental mistakes. And while Rolder was no exception, he has pretty much been universally praised for the instincts he showed last year.
Todd McShay notes that “for an inexperienced starter, he shows solid natural instincts versus the run and in coverage.” Dane Brugler adds that “Rolder needs to iron out his overaggressive tendencies, but he plays with ascending instincts and the reactive athleticism to make plays in the NFL.”
Lance Zierlein might have said it best: “Rolder’s instincts and run-game consistency make it hard to believe he was only a one-year starter in college.” Matt Holder praised his “impressive instincts given the limited on-field experience, especially against gap run schemes.”
For a franchise that has watched countless linebackers get lost in coverage or take terrible angles, this feels important.
He Rarely Misses Tackles
Rolder had a missed tackle rate of just 4.7% as a starter last year and 3.3% as a rotational player in 2024. Combine that with a pretty impressive athletic profile, and Rolder is in some rare company.
He’s one of only six Power 4 linebackers since 2015 with an RAS of at least 8.40 and a missed tackle rate below 5.0% for at least one season. That list includes Sonny Styles, Payton Wilson, Anthony Hill Jr, Quay Walker, and Devin Bush.
Pretty good company for a fourth-round pick. In a league where tackling has become optional for some defenders, finding a guy who actually wraps up might be revolutionary.
He Had One of the Most Dominant Special Teams Plays Ever
This may not have a ton of relevance to his NFL career now that the old kickoff is dead and gone, but Rolder’s effort, strength, hustle, and finish on kickoff coverage was something to behold.
Given Rolder’s role will likely be on special teams early, let’s hope he brings this kind of intensity to the new kickoff and punt coverage. The Lions have needed someone who plays with that kind of controlled violence on special teams.
He Was the Most Dominant Player on the Field During Michigan vs. Michigan State in 2025
It was an ugly win for the Wolverines over the Spartans, but Rolder put on an absolute showcase. He posted 10 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack, a fumble recovery, and an 82.1 PFF grade against Sparty.
The highlights show a linebacker who doesn’t just make plays but makes them with authority. This is the kind of performance that gets noticed in Allen Park, especially against a rival.
He Knows Jack Campbell
Rolder was heavily recruited by Iowa, and when he was, he jumped in a Zoom call with then-Hawkeyes linebacker Jack Campbell.
“When I was getting recruited out of high school I talked to him on Zoom,” Rolder said. “So, just reconvening with him, playing with him at the next level, it’s going to be awesome.”
Having an established veteran to learn from could be huge for Rolder’s development. Campbell knows what it takes to succeed at linebacker in this system.
Look, we’ve seen the Lions draft Michigan linebackers before and it hasn’t always worked out. But this one actually tackles people and plays with instincts that can’t be taught. In the fourth round, that’s about as much as you can ask for. Is this the draft pick that finally breaks the Michigan linebacker curse, or are we setting ourselves up for more disappointment? Drop your take below.
Okay I’m feeling pretty good about this pick actually. A guy who barely misses tackles and has legit instincts? That’s exactly what we’ve been missing at linebacker. Plus knowing Campbell already is huge for his development. Could be special.
Ok I’m actually feeling good about this pick. A guy who actually tackles and has real instincts? That’s not asking a lot but honestly that’s been our biggest problem at linebacker. Plus playing with Campbell should help him learn what it takes to do this job right. I’m cautiously optimistic here.
Look I want to believe this but one year of college tape isn’t exactly a huge sample size. Yeah the instincts look good and he doesn’t miss tackles, but NFL is a totally different animal. Let’s see how he actually performs before we’re saying this breaks any curse. I’ve seen too many prospects look great then flop.
The thing that stands out to me is just how much guys are praising his instincts. That’s something you either have or you don’t, and that’s been a real problem for us over the years. If this kid can come in and just play hard, especially early on special teams, that’s already better than what we’ve had in some spots.
Fourth rounder is a good spot for a one-year starter. I get it. But the whole Michigan linebacker thing has a certain feel to it that just makes me nervous. Maybe I’m paranoid but I need to see some actual NFL games before I’m convinced this is the answer.