Tag: aidan hutchinson

Lions draft LB Jimmy Rolder in 4th; 2nd Michigan defenseman in 2 days

ALLEN PARK — The Detroit Lions drafted a second straight Michigan Wolverine, when they selected linebacker Jimmy Rolder with their only pick in the fourth round (118 overall) on Saturday.

On Friday, Detroit drafted EDGE Derrick Moore (Michigan) in the second round.

Rolder said it’s going to be “awesome” to play again with Moore. Those two join EDGE Aidan Hutchinson who was drafted out of Michigan in 2022.

What makes the Michigan defense stand out? “I think just the way we play at Michigan. The way we play defense,’’ Rolder said. “We held our hat on playing physical, playing tough, playing with high effort.’’

In 2025, his first year as a starter, Rolder led Michigan with 73 tackles. He 11 starts in 12 games (7 TFLs with 2 sacks, INT, 2 PBUs).

“I just really started coming into my own. I think I’m really just getting started,’’ Rolder said on a conference call on Saturday. “I had that one year of starting and as I was playing I was playing with more and more confidence each week. I think the ceiling is way way high now. I’m excited to take it to the next level and keep working on things.’’

NFL analyst Lance Zierlein said Rolder’s instincts and run-game consistency make it hard to believe he was only a one-year starter in college. 

When Rolder was getting recruited out of high school he particiapted on a Zoom call with Lions LB Jack Campbell who was playing for Iowa at the time.

“Reconvening with him, playing with him at the next level it’s going to be awesome,’’ Rolder said. “Then obviously coming in, competing with other guys in the room, pushing each other to get better everyday in practice.’’

Rolder was a multi-sport athlete at Marist High School in Orland Park, Ill., where he helped the football team to an appearance in the Class 8A State semifinal. He had committed to play Division I baseball at Illinois. But it was during COVID, a tumultuous time. In the end football won out.

“I like baseball, but I love football,’’ said Rolder, who also enjoys playing golf.

When he got the call from Lions GM Brad Holmes Saturday, Rolder was sitting on a golf cart working with his stepdad, Scott Kehoe (Illinois, Miami Dolphins) at the Champions 4 Children charity golf outing in Fort Myers, Fla.

Lions draft Michigan EDGE Derrick Moore in second round

ALLEN PARK — Another team captain drafted, another need filled

Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes traded to move up six spots in the second round of the NFL draft, to draft EDGE Derrick Moore on Friday night.

Detroit swapped its 50th and 128th picks to the N.Y. Jets to select Moore, a team captain at Michigan, at 44.

In Thursday’s first round the Lions drafted offensive tackle Blake Miller who was a team captain at Clemson.

“We’re really, really excited. It’s hard to find guys – I’m not going to say we’re picky – but we just have a certain type that we like,’’ Holmes said.

So far in this draft the needs lined up with the best players which does not always happen.

“We’ve always said we’re going to take the best player. Look if there was – I’m sure there were other tackles available, and other edge rushers available –  but these were the guys we liked,’’ Holmes said.

The Lions finished last season at 9-8 and out of the playoffs. Bolstering the offensive and defensive lines was a priority in the offseason.

Moore stood apart from the other EDGE rushers available for several reasons.

“We’ve been pretty clear about what the requirements are at that position for us and he fits that,’’ Holmes said. “He’s a physical player, he can set hard edges, his pass rush greatly improved. When I look at Derrick — much similar to Blake Miller who we took yesterday — in terms of watching him for a long time. I’ve always felt the length, and physicality and power and pads (were there), but I didn’t really feel like his rush was quite there yet but this year he really got better.’’

He noted that Moore’s improved pass rush stood out during Senior Bowl week.

Moore said he considers Detroit a second home and looks forward to playing with Aidan Hutchinson, another Michigan product.

“I’m definitely excited to play with Hutch,’’ Moore said. “Hopefully I can learn a lot from him and we can go and cause a lot of havoc.’’

Moore, who is 6-4 and 255 pounds, was first-team All-Big Ten in 2025 with a dozen starts, leading the team with 10.5 TFLs and 10 sacks. In 2024 he was honorable mention All-Big Ten starting 12 games with 23 tackles, 6 TFLs with 4 sacks and two PBUs).

One draft analyst on Moore: “Swallows quarterbacks and runners like a crashing wave once he’s close.’’

NFL analyst Lance Zierlein scouting report reads: “Edge prospect with good size and length. Moore is far more active and engaged as a rusher than he is as a run defender. He has the ability to set firm edges, but his approach against the run can lack urgency. Against the pass, Moore is a bull-rush aficionado, piling up pressures and sacks. He’s strong through the top of the rush but needs to prove he can consistently stress long, well-anchored tackles. When it’s time to finish, he tackles with reliable technique and timing. If Moore cranks up the fire on all three downs, he can become a good full-time player. Either way, he projects as a starter capable of racking up pressures.”

Moore was the first Michigan player selected in the 2026 draft.

The Lions have six picks remaining: a fourth (118th overall), two fifths (157 and 181), two sixths (205 and 213) and a seventh (222). Saturday’s draft begins at noon.

Lions DC Kelvin Sheppard demands more from the lackluster pass rush

ALLEN PARK — Early in the season, the Lions defense helped carry the load. Lately, not so much. The Lions have lost three of their last five games heading into Thursday night’s home matchup with the red-hot Dallas Cowboys.

The line’s pass pressure has been lacking in recent weeks. And while sacks are not everything, the pressure has been limited too. In the Thanksgiving loss to Green Bay, Jordan Love was not sacked and Alim McNeill accounted for the Lions only quarterback hit. Winning at the line of scrimmage is critical. It’s not happening.

Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard takes some of the blame but he demands more from his players – all of them.

“I don’t think we’ve affected the quarterback to play any style these last couple of weeks.  I don’t care what kind of style you’re going for. The guys understand that,’’ Sheppard said on Monday. “Again, that starts with me. You’ve got to win one-on-ones, no sh–. Yeah, you have to win one-on-ones in this league. I also have to find ways to try to maximize what we do have at our disposal and put these guys in the optimal position to be able to win, give them tools to win. It’s our job to eliminate any gray, any hesitation in play and it’s their job to go out and execute.’’

The defense has just two sacks in the last three games. Against the Giants, Aidan Hutchinson’s sack helped win the game in overtime. It was the only sack in the game.

All of the woes do not fall on Hutchinson’s shoulders. It’s not a one-man defense and he is usually double-teamed. He has 8.5 sacks in the first 12 games. His production is down a bit from last season when he had 7.5 sacks in five games before he broke his leg.

“What I know is I have a high-level, one of the best, if not the best, EDGE rushers in this league,’’ Sheppard said. “He knows, just like we know, people are going to plan for him, that’s why he is one of the best and he has to combat that. It isn’t a one-man show. Other people have to win.’’

Sheppard said the key to turn pressure into sacks is to just finish.

“A lot of too-close, almost-happening, still in November going into December where that absolutely won’t be tolerated,’’ Sheppard said. “Being close isn’t good enough. You have to make that play and that’s coverage and rush — they marry each other.

“There’s no dominant defensive secondary in this league without a good pass rush, there’s no good pass rush without some type of coverage happening on the back end,’’ Sheppard added. “Our guys understand that and we have to find a way to mesh and gel those at the highest level this week against one of the top, if not the top, offense in the NFL right now.’’

Coach Dan Campbell said they have to improve on details, discipline and fundamentals.”We’ve got to get better. It can’t just be you’re going to win off talent or things of that nature. It was really more about pointing out all the things that have nothing to do with talent, which really are the details, the discipline, and the fundamentals,’’ Campbell said. “So, we’ve just got to be a little more on point there. We can, everybody’s got to do their job. And that’ll help, that’ll go a long way.”

UP NEXT:  Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1) at Detroit Lions (7-5), 8:15 p.m. on Thursday.