The Detroit Lions are in a tough situation coming into the offseason.
While they would like to keep their championship window as long as possible, they also have some decisions to make with some of their key players. In the case of running back Jahmyr Gibbs and linebacker Jack Campbell, it should lead to a long-term extension. But for some of the other free agents, it could be a tough sell to keep them from going somewhere else.
A player that could be flying under the radar is linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez. A fan favorite in Detroit, it would be hard to envision him leaving in free agency; however, Rodriguez could garner more calls than expected as teams look into his past and possibly offer him a bigger role in 2026.
Malcolm Rodriguez Could Be a Sneaky Lions Departure in Free Agency
The Lions have plenty of reasons to keep Rodriguez around.
His rise from a sixth-round pick in the 2022 draft to a key reserve and special teams contributor has made him a culture player in Detroit. While he also looked a little sluggish coming off a torn ACL from the 2024 season, special teams coordinator Dave Fipp commended him for helping out the team any way he could.
“I think Malcolm’s working through it. I think a lot of those guys coming off an ACL, they say year two is really the year they explode,” Fipp said before the season finale last month via Pride of Detroit’s Brandon Knapp. “I give him a lot of credit for obviously fighting to get back as fast as he has and go out there. He’s been a productive player for us, and I would assume that he only gets better and better – not that he’s lacking right now. I mean, he’s been a great player for us at times, and I think he’s working his way back into shape and playing. But still an asset for us, for sure.”
With just 12 total tackles and a tackle for loss, it shouldn’t take much to keep Rodriguez around. But entering his age-27 season, other teams could see potential for more.
Rodriguez broke out during his rookie season as he started 15 games for the Lions. His traditional numbers of 87 total tackles, eight tackles for loss with a sack, two pass defenses, and a fumble recovery were solid, but so were his ancillary numbers, logging a 10.1 missed tackle rate and 28 run stops, according to Pro Football Focus.
He got another taste of a starting role with six starts during the 2024 season, making 43 total tackles with two tackles for loss, two sacks, a pass defense, and a fumble recovery. Unfortunately, that campaign was cut short when he tore his ACL in a Thanksgiving win over the Chicago Bears.
Those numbers won’t have anyone jumping to make Rodriguez a starter, but he could be a depth piece that has the upside for more. The Minnesota Vikings made a similar move by poaching Eric Wilson from the Green Bay Packers last offseason, and he wound up entering the starting lineup with 62 total tackles and 6.5 sacks while also contributing on special teams.
The Los Angeles Rams are another example of an under-the-radar move last spring, signing Nathan Landman from the Atlanta Falcons. Landman showed more flashes with 191 total tackles and seven tackles for loss between the 2023 and 2024 seasons, but broke out in a big way with 132 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, six pass defenses, and four forced fumbles with his new team in 2025.
Rodriguez is probably closer to Wilson than Landman, but he may not have a similar opportunity to the one those two walked into in Detroit. Campbell and Derrick Barnes are locked into starting roles. While Alex Anzalone is expected to leave in free agency, it only takes one team to make a big offer and a bigger role to lure Rodriguez away.
Rodriguez and the Lions still have time to find a way to work out a return; however, that doesn't mean outside threats won't do their best to pry him from the Motor City next month.