The New England Patriots’ linebacker group exceeded expectations in 2025, but that does not mean the group is a finished product. Far from it, actually.
The Patriots saw last year’s No. 3 at the position, Jack Gibbens, depart in free agency and furthermore opted to release veteran Jahlani Tavai. As a result of these moves and an unclear long-term outlook to begin with, the team now is very much in the market for linebacker depth.
If New England does opt to invest, few players appear to be better fits
than Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez.
Hard facts
Name: Jacob Rodriguez
Position: Off-ball linebacker
School: Texas Tech (RS Sr.)
Opening day age: 24 (9/6/2002)
Measurements: 6’1 3/8”, 231 lbs, 30 7/8” arm length, 9 1/4” hand size, 4.57s 40-yard dash, 6.90s 3-cone drill, 4.19s short shuttle, 38.5” vertical jump, 10’1” broad jump, 16 bench press reps, 9.60 Relative Athletic Score
Experience
Colleges: Virginia (2021), Texas Tech (2022-25)
Career statistics: 55 games (31 starts) | 1,914 defensive snaps, 306 special teams snaps, 187 offensive snaps | 302 tackles, 53 missed tackles (14.9%), 24.5 TFLs, 13 FFs, 5 FRs (incl. 2 TDs) | 38 QB pressures (6.0 sacks, 7 hits, 25 hurries) | 134 targets, 107 catches surrendered (79.9%), 1,061 yards, 3 TDs, 6 INTs, 18 PBUs | 4 special teams tackles, 2 missed special teams tackles (33.3%) | 0-for-1 passing, 1 INT | 12 carries, 59 yards (4.9/carry), 2 TDs | 8 catches, 65 yards (8.1/catch) | 1 penalties (incl. 0 declined/offsetting)
Accolades: Butkus Award (2025), Chuck Bednarik Award (2025), Bronko Nagurski Trophy (2025), Lombardi Award (2025), Pony Express Award (2025), Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year (2025), First-team All-America (2025), First-team All-Big 12 (2024, 2025)
Before becoming the most decorated linebacker in college football, Rodriguez was a three-star quarterback recruit out of Rider High School in Wichita Falls, TX. He ended up at Virginia, where he played a variety of roles: besides lining up at QB, he also played wide receiver, tight end and running back during the 2021 season.
However, his future lied elsewhere both on and off the field. Rodriguez transferred to Texas Tech after his freshman campaign and once in Lubbock moved from offense to defense. He did have some experience on that side of the ball from being a part-time safety in high school but still very much learned his new position on the fly.
It mattered little. Rodriguez served as a part-time linebacker and special teamer in his first season at Texas Tech, and already from his injury-shortened junior campaign on was a mainstay on defense. When all was said and done, he had accumulated 31 starts and had developed into the top linebacker in the nation: in 2025, Rodriguez was possibly the most impactful defender in all of college football, earning multiple accolades and even finishing fifth in the Heisman Trophy vote.
The numbers speak for themselves. Already a productive player heading into his redshirt senior campaign, Rodriguez took another step forward to finish with 128 tackles as well as seven forced fumbles, four interceptions and a pair of fumble recoveries. He also scored three touchdowns: two as a running back and another on a fumble recovery.
Draft profile
Projected round: 2 | Consensus big board: No. 43 | Patriots meeting: N/A
Strengths: Rodriguez is the total package at linebacker, combining a quick processor and high football IQ with natural instincts and the athleticism to play accordingly. He is always moving at the second level, and decisive when deciding to pull the trigger as a run defender; coming in like a wrecking ball, he marries his physicality with an advance feel for angles and the ability to stack and shed blockers to get to the ball carrier. A tackling machine, his college numbers reflect his ability to maneuver through traffic and not lose sight of the football.
This has also resulted in some outstanding turnover numbers. Rodriguez knows how to rip the ball free while also reading opposing quarterbacks well and wasting little movement when adjusting to passes thrown his way. Intercepting six passes and breaking up 18 during his college career did not happen by accident; he is a ballhawk who constantly puts himself in a position to be successful due to his instinctual play.
In general, Rodriguez. has a good feel for pass coverage and the movement skills to cover running backs and linebackers. He gets to his depth quickly but has the lower-body flexibility to efficiently move vertically and horizontally as well as help out as a pursuit player. He also has a quick first step, which makes him a threat as a blitzer from either the second level or the edge, and allows him to serve as a spy against mobile QBs. Furthermore, he was an impressively clean player in college: he had no defensive penalties in 1,914 snaps, with his lone career flag coming on offense. He also has an A+ mustache.
Weaknesses: Even though his playmaking abilities put him in the limelight in 2025 and are a key element of his game, they also can be detrimental to his success and occasionally take him out of position. His aggressive approach might see him overrun run fills or overcommit, which in turn might result in him getting swallowed up inside and out of position to make plays. The fact that he lacks length (11 percentile arm length) also contributes.
In general, Rodriguez is undersized relative to a traditional linebacker type. Besides his arm length, he also is below the average in height (46 percentile) and weight (21 percentile). His physical limitations put more pressure on his instincts and ability to play technically sound. When he doesn’t, the results have been insufficient arm tackles and an overall missed tackle rate of almost 15%.
Patriots preview
What would be his role? Rodriguez primarily played as the Will linebacker at Texas Tech, a role he likely would reprise in New England as well. A difference, at least in 2026, would be his exposure: while a classic three-down player in college, he might start his career with a slightly lighter workload and sharing LB2 duties with Christian Elliss.
Does he have positional versatility? A look at his history and statistical breakdown above shows just how immensely versatile Rodriguez has been over the course of his college career. That said, the NFL is different and his opportunities to play on offense will likely be limited if even that. Realistically, he will focus on defense and special teams early on in his career and hone in on his projected role as a starting linebacker as he goes along.
What is his growth potential? Despite some size limitations, Rodriguez projects as an every-down linebacker at the next level. Like most other rookies, he might need some time to adapt to the speed and physicality of the NFL but by the end of his rookie campaign he very well could end up getting regular starter reps. By his sophomore campaign, he should be a clear LB1 or LB2 and further down the line succeed or at least complement Robert Spillane as the top option on the depth chart and defensive signal caller.
Why the Patriots? Robert Spillane will turn 31 during the upcoming season, and while still under contract through 2027 and a highly valuable player for the team is facing an unclear long-term outlook. Rodriguez, who projects as a future starter and has the makings of an impact linebacker, would give New England a foundational player in the room to keep building around. In the short term, meanwhile, he would help address the team’s depth concerns and serve as a plug-and-play upgrade over the departed Jack Gibbens and current No. 2 Christian Elliss.
Why not the Patriots? If the Patriots want to add Rodriguez to the mix, they will need to do so either late in the first round or early on Day 2. Given that they have some more pressing needs elsewhere — edge, wide receiver, offensive tackle — thy might decide that their resources are better invested elsewhere.
One-sentence verdict: Rodriguez seems like a prime candidate if the Patriots feel comfortable in the late first round or, more realistically, trade back from No. 31 overall.
For more information about Jacob Rodriguez and the rest of this year’s class of prospects, please take a look at Adam’s 2026 NFL Draft Guide.
Also, what do you think about Rodriguez as a potential Patriots target? Do you like him? Where would you pick him? Please head down to the comment section to share your thoughts.
