The Detroit Lions took the first step towards filling the void left by Alex Anzalone in the starting lineup, as they re-signed fan favorite Malcolm Rodriguez to a one-year deal. It wasn’t a shock to see Rodriguez back, given that he’s been with the organization for four years and has carved a role out for himself on special teams.
However, there was reportedly a possibility that Rodriguez wouldn't return to the Motor City, as he was receiving interest from an AFC playoff team. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC-2 (h/t @TexansJacob), the Houston Texans “were in” on Rodriguez, but he "opted" to go back to the Detroit Lions.
It’s not surprising Rodriguez received free agent interest from another team since he’s become a quality special teams contributor, who was a starter once upon a time in Detroit. But the fact that he decided to come back to Detroit, passing on the Texans, speaks volumes about the Lions.
Lions Reportedly Fended Off Houston Texans to Keep Malcolm Rodriguez
Think about it, if Rodriguez were to join the Texans, he would be part of a vaunted defense that is one of the absolute best in the league at all three levels. They have pass rushers, lockdown cornerbacks, and playmaking linebackers.
And not to mention, Rodriguez would have gotten the chance to learn from head coach DeMeco Ryans, who was a good linebacker in his own right. That said, it might’ve been tough for him to become a starter in Houston.
The Texans have Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To’oTo’o locked in as their starters with EJ Speed, Jake Hansen, and newly signed Jake Hummel as the backups.
On the other hand, with the Lions, Rodriguez knows that Jack Campbell and Derrick Barnes are locked in as starters. However, there’s an opening right now for Anzalone’s spot that Rodriguez can fill because he once was a starter in Detroit, and is familiar with how Dan Campbell does things.
In Rodriguez’s lone year as a starter, he racked up 87 combined tackles, eight tackles for loss, three quarterback hits, two pass deflections, and a forced fumble. Rodriguez left much to be desired in pass coverage, as he allowed 10 yards per completion, a 100.7 passer rating when targeted, and a touchdown.
However, it was something to build off of going forward. That never happened, as he’s started in 10 games over the three years. But knowing that Rodriguez has a chance to become a starter, and seeing how Detroit gives people a chance to win jobs, it's hard to blame him for wanting to bet on himself again on a one-year deal.