Lions land Michigan linebacker Jimmy Rolder in 2026 draft

The Detroit Lions drafted Michigan linebacker Jimmy Rolder with the 118th overall pick (Round 4) in the 2026 NFL Draft, a selection that could fill a WILL linebacker role as Kelvin Sheppard’s defense evolves. Rolder led Michigan with 73 tackles in 2025, earned the Roger Zatkoff Award, and drew praise for his awareness, sideline-to-sideline speed, and leadership. Expert notes highlight his multi-gap range and coverage upside, while Lions beat writer Tim Twentyman notes Rolder could compete with Malcolm Rodriguez and Damone Clark for a starting role after Alex Anzalone signed elsewhere; Twentyman and Rolder also emphasize the importance of leadership and communication on the field.