The Detroit Lions will be in for revenge in 2026. Their disappointing 2025 campaign is in the rearview mirror, and with an easier schedule, a new offensive coordinator, and most of their stars back, the table is set for a bounce-back season.
However, that also puts even more pressure on some of the players on the roster bubble or looking to get a new deal. Notably, that includes Malcolm Rodriguez, as he's about to enter a contract year and may already have his replacement on the roster.
Jimmy Rolder is a threat to Malcolm Rodriguez
Rodriguez suffered a season-ending ACL injury in 2024. He was only able to suit up for seven games last season, playing the bulk of his snaps on special teams before getting a one-year deal to prove that he can stay healthy. He earned that right, as he had shown strong flashes before that unfortunate injury.
As a former sixth-round selection, Rodriguez outplayed his draft stock earlier in his career. Nevertheless, he hasn't necessarily kept the momentum going after his strong rookie season, though he can still prove to be an efficient off-ball linebacker if he stays healthy.
The Lions took Jimmy Rolder with the No. 188 pick. The Michigan product joined fellow Wolverine Derrick Moore, and he's versatile enough to play at either linebacker spot besides Jack Campbell, the only Lions linebacker who might have locked in his starting spot.
He's coming off leading his team in tackles (73) in his final season in college. He also logged 7 tackles for loss, two pass breakups, two sacks, and one pick. He's a high-volume tackler with a strong nose for the ball. More importantly, he's a true finisher; someone who's going to make sure to leave the ball-carrier on the ground, which is great for a Lions defense that struggled with broken tackles last season.
On paper, Rodriguez is still ahead of him in the pecking order, and he should have more than enough opportunities to prove that he should be the starting. That said, after playing nearly twice as many snaps on special teams as he did on defense last season, he might have to show Kelvin Sheppard that he hasn't lost a step after his major injury.
The Lions' defense ranked in the middle of the pack in most categories, giving up 114.5 rushing yards (14th), 24.3 points (22nd), and 351.4 total yards (19th) per game last season. That's not gonna cut it in the stacked NFC North, and if the veterans don't step up, the rookies might as well yank their jobs.
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