Ourlads' Profile:
2022 Guide: What Ourlads’ NFL Scouting Services said about MALCOLM RODRIGUEZ:
Oklahoma State, 5110 232 4.52. Four-year starter, Tahlequah, OK. ESPN first-team All-America, first-team All-Big 12 and Big 12 Linebacker of the Year. Former safety who made the conversion early in his career. Somewhat undersized he plays bigger than he is. Instinctive high motor player he flies to the ball and has perimeter to perimeter range. Has improved strength each year and added power to his game. Shows quickness moving downhill and precise fitting inside gaps. Physical attacking blocks he stuns and separates from bigger blockers with strong hand usage and placement. Turns quickness into power. His quick hands allow him to slip or redirect off blocks and keep moving to the ball. Outstanding tackling skill he gathers and finishes driving through tackles. Shows decent lateral movement and change of direction and takes quality angles in pursuit. Normally plays well in space. Solid in coverage he shows ball skills and awareness in zone. Has range in the intermediate zones and a knack for finding the throwing lane, causing quarterbacks to look elsewhere. Quick to break on the ball he minimizes gains on short throws. Easily flips his hips to work underneath seam and dig routes. Excellent ability to read the quarterback. Used often as a pressure rusher, he can cover backs out of the backfield. Has the speed to take a tight end up the field. Has not shown outstanding blitz skill possibly due to scheme. Unimpressive length and lack of height shows up at times versus athletic linemen and occasional missed tackles where he lunges. Has some problems getting separated on route breaks in man coverage. Despite analytics he is too productive to ignore and has NFL three down potential. May be scheme dependent. Should be excellent on special teams.
2021 stats: 131 T, 15 TFL, 3 sacks, 5 PBU, 10 QBH, 4 FF, 1 INT. OSR:17/42. Third/fourth round. (A-30 1/8, H-9 5/8, BP-36, 10-1.54).