The Miami Dolphins took 13 swings in the 2026 NFL Draft, hoping to get a group of players that they can build around with the new regime of Jeff Hafley and Jon-Eric Sullivan running things for years to come.
While Miami made two selections in the first round, it may be second-round pick Jacob Rodriguez who ends up being the best of the class.
Rodriguez joined the Dolphins after one season at Virginia and four at Texas Tech, where he earned All-Big 12 honors twice and All-American honors once. He also won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Butkus Award, Lombardi Award and Chuck Bednarik Award in 2025 after leading college football with seven forced fumbles.
Now, just one week into his professional career, he's already earning compliments and praise from
opposing coaches, including 49ers offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak, who compared Rodriguez to one of the best linebackers in the league.
“Yeah, he’s going to be a heck of a player," Kubiak told reporters this week. "You can tell they put a lot on him as far as their communication, as far as getting their people lined up. He’s a tackle machine, and he’s like Fred [Warner], how he can punch the ball. He’s a turnover machine. He’s only a rookie, but you can see a guy who’s going to be a really good player for a long time. So, he’s going to be a challenge on Sunday.”
Warner was San Francisco's third-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft out of BYU. In his eight seasons, he's earned All-Pro honors and has made the Pro Bowl four times. He probably would've added a fifth last year had he not suffered a fractured ankle just six games into his campaign.
If Rodriguez ends up playing like Warner throughout his career, the Dolphins and their fans would be absolutely thrilled.
This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: 49ers coordinator compares Dolphins rookie to 4-time All-Pro
