The Lions have gone to Michigan for back to back picks in the NFL Draft.
A day after trading up for edge rusher Derrick Moore in the second round, the Lions have taken linebacker Jimmy Rolder in the fourth, 118th overall.
Like Moore, Rolder was a four-year player at Michigan who grew into one of their best defensive players as a senior. He led the team in tackles and finished third in tackles for loss last season, playing most of his snaps in the box. He's regarded as a strong, violent tackler with a knack for sniffing out ball-carriers against the run.
#lions GM Brad Holmes on when he was sold on Michigan’s Derrick Moore as a pass rusher pic.twitter.com/OCDKBPyu4h
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"The way we play at Michigan, the way we play defense, we held our hat on playing physical, playing tough and playing with high effort," Rolder said Saturday. "That’s what you’re going to get out of a Michigan defender, like Derrick Moore and like myself."
Rolder wasn't a starter until his senior year, but he made his opportunity count. He tallied 73 tackles, including seven for loss, two sacks, three passes defended and one interception in 12 games last season and was named second-team All-Big Ten.
"I just really started coming into my own, and I think I’m really just getting started," Rolder said Saturday. "I had that one year starting, and as I was playing, I was just playing with more and more confidence each week. The ceiling is way high now. I’m just excited for the opportunity to take it to the next level and keep working on things, getting more technically sound and just continuing my craft.
"With where I’m right now, I still have a lot to improve on, a lot to grow, so I’m just excited to see how far I can go with it."
An all-out, all-the-time kind of player, Rolder will offer the Lions immediate value on special teams, with a chance to contribute early on defense alongside Jack Campbell, Derrick Barnes and Malcolm Rodriguez. He's short on coverage ability partly because he lacks NFL length, but "few linebackers in this draft finish tackles with the technique and consistency he displays," per NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein.
"If you trust the tape and ignore his lack of experience, Rolder profiles as a future starting inside linebacker," says Zierlein.
