Michigan
2026 NFL Draft Day 3: Lions add Michigan LB Jimmy Rolder in fourth round
EAST LANSING, MI – OCTOBER 25: Michigan Wolverines linebacker Jimmy Rolder (30) celebrates a first half sack during a college football game between the Michigan State Spartans and Michigan Wolverines on October 25, 2025 at Spartan Stadium in East Lan
DETROIT (FOX 2) – Another former Michigan Wolverine was drafted by the Detroit Lions on Saturday as the fourth round kicked off the final day of the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh.
The Lions selected linebacker Jimmy Rolder with the No. 118 overall pick in the fourth round.
With Alex Anzalone having departed Detroit, the Lions needed to find a successor at the position.
In 2025, Rolder played in 12 games for Michigan and led the Wolverines with 73 tackles. He also recorded two sacks, seven tackles for loss and an interception. He earned All-Big Ten honors, was a Butkus Award semifinalist and won the Roger Zatkoff Award, given to Michigan’s most outstanding linebacker.
It marks back-to-back selections of former Wolverines for the Lions. The team traded up to the No. 44 overall pick Friday night to select Rolder’s teammate, edge rusher Derrick Moore, in the second round. Moore had 10 sacks in 2025 and joins fellow Wolverine Aidan Hutchinson on the Lions’ defensive line.
Lions trade up to pick Michigan’s Derrick Moore
The Lions on Friday traded up to the no. 44 overall spot and made their second-round pick, choosing Michigan edge rusher Derrick Moore. Moore had 10 sacks in the 2025 season, joining fellow Wolverine Aidan Hutchinson on the Lions defensive line. According to his scouting report, Moore is effective with a bull rush, consistently generating pressure and sacks. In 2025, he was a first-team All-Big Ten selection, recording 10.5 tackles for loss.
First Round Pick:
On Thursday, the Lions opened the 2026 NFL Draft by selecting Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller with the No. 17 overall pick.
Miller, from Strongsville, Ohio, played for Clemson from 2022-25 and set the program record for career snaps from scrimmage with 3,778 over 54 games.
What’s next:
The Lions have two picks in the fifth round (Nos. 157 and 181 overall), two picks in the sixth round (Nos. 205 and 213 overall) and one pick in the seventh round (No. 222 overall).
The Source: Information for this story came from Detroit Lions and NFL.