Jacob Rodriguez Goes to Crowded LB Corps

What They're Saying

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah: “Rodriguez is an off-ball linebacker with outstanding instincts, playmaking ability and intangibles. He’s a dominant player against the run … 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. He has a unique ability to punch the ball away as a tackler … Overall, Rodriguez is polished and equipped to make an immediate impact.”

2026 Fantasy Football Impact

I’d normally clip a piece of the evaluation rather than include such a long quote about a player. But that Jeremiah evaluation signals Rodriguez’s cross-category upside and strong outlook across fantasy formats.

Rodriguez racked up 21.5 tackles for loss and 6 sacks over his two starting seasons, impressive numbers for an off-ball LB. He added 10 forced fumbles, 10 passes defensed, and 5 INTs.

Rodriguez doesn’t match classmate Sonny Styles in size (he’s a mere 6’1, 231 pounds) or speed, but Rodriguez still stands out in the latter category. He delivered a 78th-percentile speed score at the Scouting Combine, even at just 21st-percentile weight for the position.

His landing spot challenges the immediate impact, though. Miami started Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson at LB throughout 2025. Brooks' contract says you should expect him to stay in the lineup. Dodson, on the other hand, could be movable.

Expect a camp competition for that spot. If Rodriguez can win it, he'll be a high-upside fantasy option likely to go decently late in drafts.

Dynasty Impact

Rodriguez looks at least as attractive for dynasty formats -- and probably more so, with less risk that he sits behind either incumbent beyond 2026.

His Round 2 draft capital merely solidifies the already impressive resume. The LB makes sense as early as late Round 1 in your rookie draft if your league starts more than three defensive players.