The Detroit Lions waited until the sixth round (pick No. 188) to address the linebacker position, but they’re hoping they found a sleeper and key contributor in Oklahoma State’s Malcolm Rodriguez.
A high school linebacker/safety hybrid (and dual-threat quarterback on offense), at just 205 pounds, Rodriguez entered Oklahoma State as a safety. He earned a starting safety role as a sophomore, added weight and switched to a starting linebacker role as a junior, and was a captain during his senior and fifth-year senior years (he took advantage of the extra year of eligibility the NCAA allowed due to COVID-19).