Underrated, unproven, and suddenly in the mix: How Jimmy Rolder could steal a starting spot for the Lions
Jimmy Rolder’s path at Michigan took time, but his lone year as a starter showed real promise. He led the team with 73 tackles, flashed pass-rush upside, and brings the versatility to compete at WILL—where the Lions have an opening. If he finds more consistency, he could push for a role, and possibly starts, as a rookie
The Detroit Lions parted ways with long-time starting Will linebacker Alex Anzalone this offseason, and they may have found his replacement in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Rolder fits the Lions in so many ways from what we can see. But I wanted to see what someone who covered Moore at Michigan for four years sees. So I reached out to my guy, Von Lozon of Maize n Brew, to get some answers. Here’s what he had to say:
Rolder was so good in his one year as a starter. Why did it take so long to become one?
“Rolder was a late-blooming high school prospect, as he didn’t receive his offer from Michigan (and many of his other blue blood offers) until he put out some senior year tape that fall. He was a raw prospect going into college, so it took him a little bit to get things going. He missed a bulk of his sophomore year due to injury, which only set him back even more, and then he had to make up ground to other linebackers once he got healthy. Jaishawn Barham moving to edge last season helped get Rolder in the starting lineup, and he made the most of his final year in college and was able to put together his best tape.”
What part of Rolder’s game is underrated
“I think his pass-rush upside is flying a bit under the radar. He has a good feel for timing blitzes and can finish plays quickly. He had a knack for generating pressures at a pretty decent clip (he was tied for seventh in total pressures on the team last year with 13) and I think there is even more to that area of his game that can be unlocked in the NFL.”
Where is Rolder in the NFL? Will, Sam, Mike?
“I think he could play all three spots to some degree, but I think his home will be at WILL when it’s all said and done. That spot is wide open for the Lions with Alex Anzalone going to Tampa Bay, and I think Rolder has as good of a shot as Malcolm Rodriguez or any of the others in the room to fill that vacancy. He has quality speed, is a sure tackler (he missed just four tackles all of last season), and can handle coverage assignments at a decent level. It wouldn’t surprise me if he started some games at WILL at some point as a rookie.”
What’s the area that Rolder needs to improve the most?
“I think he just needs to be more consistent overall. There were games this past year where he flashed (at Michigan State, vs Ohio State), and then there were other games where he was a complete non-factor, which is pretty interesting considering he led the team in tackles with 73. NFL coaches demand that players bring the same level of intensity and focus week in and week out; I don’t know if that was Rolder’s issue last year, necessarily or not, but he will have to be more consistent overall to be a regular contributor at the next level.”
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