Lions add gritty Michigan LB Jimmy Rolder to shore up linebacker depth
Detroit selects Michigan linebacker Jimmy Rolder with the 118th pick in the fourth round to bolster a thin Lions linebacking corps, with a path to compete with Malcom Rodriguez for LB3 and potential starter duties in the future. Rolder is praised for strong tackling and run defense (RAS 9.52) and earned All-Big-Ten second-team honors in 2025, but his starting experience is limited and he trails in pass coverage and pass rushing, making development and special-teams role essential for this pick.
