NFL teams looking for off-ball linebacker like the Buffalo Bills, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New England Patriots should have their eyes on former Texas Tech star Jacob Rodriguez.
While David Bailey is garnering all the attention as a top 10 prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft, Rodriguez is a player who could see his name called on Day 1 as well.
Following a highly productive final season at Texas Tech, the 6-foot-1, 217-pound linebacker has impressed scouts all season along. That great impression has bled into the pre-draft process after Rodriguez had a solid NFL Combine. In positing a 40-Yard Dash time of 4.57 seconds, Rodriguez showcased his speed, but it is his mental processing as a middle linebacker that stands out when it comes to the on-the-field production of Rodriguez.
As a player with great burst in his pursuit of the ball carrier as well as his high impact as far as forcing turnovers, Rodriguez is a player who will have an immediate impact on any roster he is drafted on to.
Jacob Rodriguez is a “tackle for loss machine”
Rodriguez is climbing up many NFL draft big boards including Daniel Jeremiah’s latest NFL Draft prospect rankings 4.0. Landing at No. 41, the NFL.com draft analyst highlights Rodriguez’s run stopping ability along with the great field awareness he brings to the game
Jeremiah writes:
“Rodriguez is an off-ball linebacker with outstanding instincts, playmaking ability and intangibles. He’s a dominant player against the run, sorting through the muddy box to locate ball-carriers and bring them to the ground. He finds a lane and attacks with inside-out leverage. He’s a tackle for loss machine. His lateral range is excellent, too. In pass coverage, he’s best utilized as a zone dropper. He relies on his awareness/feel for the game to position himself for interceptions and pass breakups. In man coverage, he does have some issues when he’s asked to stop/start and mirror.”
If Rodriguez can improve on his man coverage as Jeremiah notes as one of his weaknesses, Rodriguez will be a Pro Bowl caliber player in the NFL level. Along with his leadership ability and knack for creating turnovers, the former Texas Tech star already projects as a long-term starter at the NFL level.
3 best landing spots for Jacob Rodriguez
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Even before Lavonte David retired from the NFL, inside linebacker was one of the top draft needs for the Buccaneers. They signed Alex Anzalone to a two-year deal in free agency, but they are on the market for a long-term linebacker to succeed David. With his well-known leadership ability, Rodriguez is a talent who could fit the bill for the Buccaneers, especially if he is still on the board when the Buccaneers select on Day 2. With Anzalone on the roster, the Buccaneers can use their top pick at edge and target Rodriguez with their second-round pick if another team doesn’t gobble him up prior to the end of the first round.
- Buffalo Bills
One of those teams that could gobble Rodriguez up are the Buffalo Bills. Like the Buccaneers, the Bills will be looking for a young talent to succeed a veteran. With Matt Milano still unsigned and looking unlikely to return to the Bills, the team must find a player who can replace that production aside from Terrel Bernard. Rodriguez, who is great against the run, would instantly help improve a Bills’ run defense that was a weakness in the 2025 NFL season.
- New England Patriots
Another team with a need for an off-ball linebacker are the Patriots who loss Jack Gibbens in free agency. With the No. 31 overall pick in the draft, the defending AFC champions could use a green dot linebacker like Rodriguez who plays the game much like Patriots legend Tedy Bruschi, which Mike Vrabel would greatly appreciate. In providing that playmaking ability, leadership and sideline-to-sideline range, Rodriguez would bring depth to the table playing behind Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss. He could also battle either of those players for the starting role by midseason.