Kirthmon F. Dozier / USA TODAY NETWORK

Is Malcolm Rodriguez the NFL's next Swiss army knife?

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Mike Payton | Last updated Nov 29, 2023 3:00 PM ET

I've been in this game for 10 years now and anyone that's followed me during that time knows that I love a player that can do more than one thing for you. I'm the guy that loves the super-back position at Northwestern because it puts a player in four different positions. I love a guy that that can play running back and receiver and I love a guy that can play on offense and defense. The Detroit Lions have one of the latter guys now in Malcolm Rodriguez.

Last years sixth round pick was drafted to play linebacker for this team and he did plenty of that his rookie year. The Lions just got so much better in that room this year that it sort of pushed Rodriguez out of having a large snap count. He spent most of this season on special teams until right before the bye when Rodriguez was suddenly on offense playing fullback for the Lions.

He's been playing fullback for the Lions for the last five games and here's the thing, he's actually been doing a pretty good job at it for a guy that's only been an offensive player in NFL for five weeks. He has a run block grade of 59.5. and he's picking up grades in the 60's when he's pass blocking. Also, last Thursday he recorded his first career reception.

First down...Rodrigo!#GBvsDET | FOX pic.twitter.com/bIkOK2lrxo
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) November 23, 2023

While he's mostly been on offense and he's only played 16 snaps on defense in the last five games, he could see a big rise in his playing time on defense this week if Alex Anzalone is not able to play due to injury.

"He's gonna have to take on a bigger load." Lions head coach Dan Campbell said. "He plays a little bit on defense and we're gonna need him more on offense too. So we're gonna stretch him out here a little bit, but he can handle it. He's got hands too. You saw that? Flip his hips. He's tough. He's got leverage. He's smart. So it's pretty impressive."

The likelihood is that if Anzalone does miss this game, we'll probably see more of Jack Campbell, Derrick Barnes and Jalen Reeves-Maybin, but Rodriguez should definitely see some defensive snaps on Sunday since he succeeds in stopping the run and the Saints have a dangerous runner in Alvin Kamara.

Rodriguez has a while to go before you can really put that two way Swiss army knife label on him, but he's on his way to being an important part of this team on both sides of the ball. Who knows where he'll be next season.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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