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Grading the Dolphins pick of Jacob Rodriguez in the 2026 NFL Draft
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- Grading the Dolphins pick of Jacob Rodriguez in the 2026 NFL Draft
After taking Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor and San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson in the first round, the Miami Dolphins got a value pick in the second round when they took Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez.
With pick No. 43, the Dolphins selected the defensive playmaker. This is the type of young player you want to add to a defense that's looking to build after being 24th in points allowed this past season.
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Rodriguez plays with toughness and emotion when he's on the field. His crushing tackles and high playmaking ability are reminiscent of Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell .
In his past two seasons since becoming a full-time linebacker, Jacob dominated the stat sheet, posting 140 solo tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, six sacks and five interceptions. These numbers are undeniable and show why Rodriguez was one of the best players in college football.
In 2025, Rodriguez was named the Big-12 Defensive Player of the Year, and took home the Lombardi Award, Butkus Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Chuck Bednarik Award.
One of the things analysts have raised concerns about regarding Rodriguez's game is that he can get out of place chasing the big play. This is something Rodriguez can fix as he grows more into the position and matures in the NFL. It's also one of those things where it can look great on tape when his instincts are right or leave a huge gap when he guesses wrong.
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With the Dolphins still a developing team, Rodriguez will have the opportunity to learn from his mistakes. This was a "gimme" pick for Miami and a major help to one of the bottom defenses in the 2025 regular season.
Final Grade: A
More Dolphins: Dolphins 2026 NFL Draft tracker: Pick-by-pick analysis
This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: NFL Draft: Grading the Dolphins pick of Jacob Rodriguez
