The Detroit Lions are opting for the in-state approach in this year’s NFL Draft. After selecting former Michigan Wolverines' defensive end Derrick Moore in the second round, Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell went back to Ann Arbor and ended up selecting Wolverines' Jimmy Rolder in round four as their 118th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. 

The Lions sent picks 50 and 128 to the New York Jets to acquire the 44th overall selection and add Morre on the edge, with another Wolverine alum, Aidan Hutchinson. Rolder will step in after the Lions lost their starting linebacker, Alex Anzalone, to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

Injuries and a crowded depth chart with Jaishawn Barham and Ernest Hausmann as starters saw Rolder get limited playing time. In the 12 games he appeared in the 2025 season, the linebacker led the Wolverines with 73 tackles, two sacks, seven tackles for a loss, and one interception.

The Lions' No. 118 pick delivered a standout performance in the 2025 rivalry game versus Michigan State. He totaled 10 tackles, including two for loss, added a sack and a fumble recovery, finishing with an impressive 82.1 PFF grade.

Rolder’s showing at the combine helped elevate his stock as well. Measuring in at 6-foot-2½, 228 pound recorded a 9.51 RAS (Relative Athletic Score). It places him ahead of more than 95% of the 3,364 linebackers tested since 1987.

However, Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell are catching some heat from the fans for favoring players coming out of Ann Arbor.

Fans Upset With Detroit Lions Another Wolverine Pick

So far, Detroit has picked seven players in the 2026 NFL Draft, and two belong to the Michigan Wolverines. “This is why I hate the Lions more than any other franchise," wrote an upset fan. The reason behind the frustration is the Lions' focus on only the Wolverines when the state of Michigan has programs like the Michigan State Spartans.

Another fan referred to how the Lions might regret their move. “Drafting players from a team that doesn’t win big games to a team that can’t win big games makes sense,” the comment read. The Minnesota Vikings drafted JJ McCarthy in 2024, after he won the National Title with the Wolverines. But struggled in the league and might get replaced by Kyler Murray in the 2026 NFL season. 

This fan was just hurt with what the Lions posted on their X handle and said, “This was the worst possible picture to use, knowing a big part of your fan base are Spartans too.” The picture showing the Wolverines vs Spartans game did not sit well, since the last time the Lions drafted a Spartan was Drew Stanton in 2007.

With Moore's draft, the pressure now increases for the Lions. “Derrick Moore was a solid pick for the Lions. Jared Goff, you have everything to get to a Super Bowl,” wrote a fan. Moore was named the Defensive Player of the Year and will have to help the defense that ranked 18th last season.

The Lions went 9-8 last season, so the pressure is increasing. “Brad Holmes finally did his job getting edge rusher and OT, DB now Jared Goff has to perform & get to a Super Bowl. No complaining because Brad Holmes got good, talented, it's all on Jared Goff now,” wrote a fan. With the Wolverines duo, will their move pay off?

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Written by

Samvruth Raj

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar