Lions, Malcolm Rodriguez Agree To Deal

As a sixth-round rookie in 2022, Rodriguez was “Hard Knocks” star who ended up a 15-game starter in the regular season. The Oklahoma State product totaled 87 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble then, but it was not enough to hold down a starting job.

In 2023, Rodriguez’s only 17-game season, he played just 10.99% of defensive snaps. On the other hand, he recorded the Lions’ third-highest special teams snap share (67.92%).

Rodriguez saw more action as a defender than a special teamer in his third season, but he was one of many Lions defenders to suffer a serious injury that year. A torn ACL ended his season in late November. Rodriguez finished 2024 with 43 tackles and a career-high two sacks over 10 games and six starts.

After Rodriguez went through a year-long recovery from his knee injury, the 5-foot-11, 230-pounder came off the PUP list last November. He played 160 special teams snaps and 72 on defense over seven games. Rodriguez made 12 tackles during his late-season return.

With Anzalone on his way to Tampa Bay, Gonzalez could be a bigger factor in Detroit’s defense in 2026. As things stand, Rodriguez, Jack Campbell and Derrick Barnes are the only Lions linebackers under contract.

Connor Byrne contributed to this post.