NFL Draft 2026 Scouting Report for Michigan LB Jimmy Rolder

Matt HolderApr 16, 2026

The Detroit Lions selected Michigan LB Jimmy Rolder with the No. 118 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft.

Jimmy Rolder is a downhill linebacker who isn't afraid to throw his body around and has some pop behind his pads to contribute as a run defender. The 6'3", 238-pounder is also a sure tackler and has experience playing special teams to be an intriguing day three option.

A 4-star recruit in the 2022 high school class, it took Rolder a while to get significant playing time on Michigan's defense.

He didn't become a full-time starter until Jaishawn Barham moved to the edge this past season, accumulating just 118 tackles, nine tackles for loss, two sacks, an interception and two passes defended over 43 career games in Ann Arbor. However, Rolder did manage to earn second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2025.

Matt Holder has been a part of B/R's Scouting Department for four seasons. He also writes about the Las Vegas Raiders and NFL draft for SB Nation's Silver and Black Pride, and co-hosts a YouTube Channel, Tape Don't Lie, providing film breakdowns and more draft prospect analysis.

Highlights

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Where He Wins

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- Rolder has good size for a modern NFL linebacker, and while he didn't participate in the 40-yard dash during the pre-draft events, his athletic explosion and agility testing numbers were good enough to earn a 9.53 RAS.

- Impressive instincts given the limited on-field experience, especially against gap run schemes, as he's quick to recognize them and put himself in a position to shoot gaps and make tackles at or near the line of scrimmage.

- Has the lateral movement skills and instincts to be solid at mirroring running backs against zone runs.

- Physical and plenty of pop behind his pads to generate some knockback power when coming downhill.

- Sure tackler who uses good pad level and consistently wraps up, leading to very few misses.

Areas of Improvement

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL: OCT 25 Michigan at Michigan State

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- Rolder is reliant on making offensive linemen miss or getting penetration when coming downhill to defeat blocks as a run defender. He doesn't use his hands and has short arms, leading to him getting stuck on blocks.

- Subpar lower body strength and anchor to consistently hold his gap against offensive linemen in the run game.

- He can get caught being over-aggressive with his reads against the run, falling for the eye candy against motion and/or getting caught in the trash.

- Awareness in zone coverage is poor; he's often late to cover the flat or doesn't get enough depth as a middle hook or hook to curl defender. Also doesn't have the speed to recover from a late read, especially against play-action passes.

- Often taken out in passing situations at Michigan.

- Lacks game experience defensively as a one-year starter.