The 2026 NFL Draft looks to have one of the best linebacker classes to enter the NFL in recent memory.
This draft has a bevy of athletic and talented linebackers who could fill just about any need in any defense called at the NFL level. Interestingly, however, one name that doesn’t get mentioned frequently is Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez.
Rodriguez was the best defender in college football last year, stuffing the stat sheet in the way few have in recent memory on the way to winning just about
every award a linebacker could win.
The New York Giants have solid starting linebackers in Tremaine Edmunds and Micah McFadden. However, adding a player like Rodriguez could allow them to take a good position and make it a real strength. But will Rodriguez be available for the Giants to pick?
Prospect: Jacob Rodriguez (10)
Games Watched: vs. Kansas (2025), vs. Arizona State (2025), vs. BYU (2025 Big 10 Championship)
Red Flags: None
Measurables
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Strengths
Best traits
- Instincts
- Athleticism
- Mental processing
- Playmaking
- Space play
- Run defense
Jacob Rodriguez is a slightly undersized but athletic and highly instinctive linebacker, as well as one of this draft’s premier playmakers.
Rodriguez is just above the threshold for a modern off-ball linebacker at 6-foot-1, 231 pounds, but he compensates with impressive athletic traits. Rodriguez has good long speed and among the best change of direction skills in this linebacker class. He’s easily able to match up with tight ends and running backs in coverage, as well as spy athletic quarterbacks. Rodriguez is also quickly and easily able to get depth in his zone drops, making him a versatile piece in obvious passing downs for blitzing defenses.
He’s also a very capable run defender who’s able to stack and shed offensive line blocks when playing downhill thanks to good leverage and polished technique. He’s able to get under linemen’s pads, keep himself clean, and uncoil to give himself room to make a play. Rodriguez’s quickness and agility also make him very difficult to block cleanly while he’s knifing through trash or scraping along the line of scrimmage. He’s a prolific tackler, racking up well over 100 tackles in each of the last two seasons.
Rodriguez’s instincts, however, are what set him apart. He processes very quickly in the pre and post-snap phases, and is also able to consistently anticipate the flow of the play. Rodriguez consistently makes an accurate first move and is often moving in the direction of the play as soon as the quarterback commits to distributing the ball. His instincts, movement skills, and hand-eye coordination also allow him to be a true ballhawk. Rodriguez had 6 passes defensed, 4 interceptions, 7 forced fumbles, and a pair of fumble recoveries in 2025. He is a threat on any down to end the opposing drive and set up his offense with the ball.
Weaknesses
Worst traits
- Angle consistency
- Tackle consistency
- Length
There are a couple factors holding Rodriguez back from being considered one of the top players in this draft class.
Most notably, and there’s nothing he can do about it, Rodriguez is a bit undersized. Not much for a modern off-ball linebacker, however he lacks mass at 231 pounds and definitely lacks length at 6-foot-1 with 31-inch arms. That does show up in his game as he needs excellent leverage to consistently deal with offensive line blocks, and he also has a limited tackle radius.
His limited tackle radius feeds into his other significant issue, which is too many missed tackles. Despite being an absolute tackling machine, Rodriguez still had a 13.9 percent missed tackle rate last year (per PFF). He has a tendency to be overly-aggressive in his choice of angles, either underestimating his opponents’ speed or overestimating his own. Combined with his short arms, Rodriguez was often unable to properly break down and was forced to attempt arm tackles – for which he lacks much of a radius.
Game Tape
(Rodriguez is the Texas Tech linebacker wearing number 10.)
Projection
Jacob Rodriguez projects as a starting WILL linebacker at the NFL level, with the versatility to play in just about any defensive scheme.
Rodriguez’s size will likely keep teams from considering him as an every-down MIKE linebacker, despite his obvious football IQ, leadership, and communication skills. He’s also at his best when he can play in space, using his instincts, processing, and athleticism to flow to the ball, disrupt the offense, and make plays for his defense.
The question is how heavily teams will weigh his size and missed tackle rate against his athleticism and playmaking ability. Some teams could look at Rodriguez and wonder if his playmaking will translate to the next level, while others could see a Luke Kuechly like linebacker. Rodriguez could sneak into the bottom of the first round for the right team, or he could be a phenomenal value in the second.
Does he fit the Giants? Yes, value permitting
Final Word: A late first or early second round value
