The fireworks this month might not come on the Fourth of July, but rather, as soon as training camp kicks off for the Detroit Lions and their linebacker room.
After the departure of Alex Anzalone in free agency, there's one less linebacker left to compete for a starting spot next to Jack Campbell in the lineup. Derrick Barnes, Jimmy Rolder, Joe Bachie, and Malcolm Rodriguez are all vying for a starting spot in that lineup, with Rodriguez having a slight edge over the group thanks to his previously great starts and appearances for Detroit in 2024.
However, that doesn't mean he'll be without some pushback from the rest of that room. And, given the praise that the linebacker room received throughout OTAs and minicamp - specifically, the praise given to the rookie Rolder - Rodriguez might need to really step it up in training camp to firmly cement himself as one of three linebackers that Kelvin Sheppard utilizes in 2026.
Rodriguez might need to buckle up for tough linebacker competition
Here's what the Lions have had to say about Rolder so far this offseason:
Sheppard: “It means something to him, to be honest. To play linebacker and safety in this system, especially where we've taken it now, it takes a lot. It takes mental capacity, and he has it.”
Head coach Dan Campbell: "Chuck [Clark] made a couple of plays, AB [Aamaris Brown] made a play in there, [Jimmy] Rolder's getting some knock downs, Jack [Campbell]'s getting some punch outs, I think that's what I liked: we're getting our hands on some footballs on defense, which was one of the things we emphasized coming into this year. It's the takeaways. Every team says, but you've gotta make it happen."
Rolder's clearly been impressing in camp, which is huge for a rookie on a very veteran-led team. As for Barnes, we haven't heard much about him, but he knows that he has to improve this season in order to make his mark on this Lions roster.
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This is a great thing for Detroit, mind you. The more legitimate competition they have in their linebacker room that could in turn improve their run defense, their work in coverage, and their ability to generate quarterback pressures, the better the Lions' defense will shape up despite some holes in their secondary.
This is just bad for Rodriguez...or Rolder. Or Barnes.
Adding starting-caliber at this spot was key after Anzalone departed in free agency. That gives Sheppard the versatility necessary to make something shake with the Lions' defense, despite their weaknesses. However, one of these players will be sacrificing starting snaps for the betterment of Detroit's defense, and Rodriguez could be the odd man out in that equation if Barnes or Rolder outshine him.
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