The Dolphins are releasing LB Tyrel Dodson, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. That clears the way for second-round rookie Jacob Rodriguez to join Jordyn Brooks in the starting lineup.
What They're Saying: Get to Know Jacob Rodriguez
Dolphins reporter Travis Wingfield, after a joint practice session with the Giants: "Rodriguez was awesome today -- has been all camp, really."
Miami C Aaron Brewer, via the Palm Beach Post, early in August: "It seems like he's making plays every single day out there. He's a dawg. He's been flying around. He plays physically, plays with his hands, and he's a real-life football player. ... He has all of my trust."
2026 Fantasy Football Impact: Don't Be Surprised if We Get a Breakout
There's no overstating the upside on Rodriguez. He can be this year's Carson Schwesinger: a rookie LB who arrives at modest draft cost but carries upside into the position's top 12.
Rodriguez racked up huge numbers the past two years as the driver of Texas Tech's defense, leading the Big 12 in solo tackles each season while compiling 127 and 128 total tackles. Over that span, he also added:
- 21.5 tackles for loss
- 6 sacks
- 5 INTs
- 10 passes defensed
- 10 forced fumbles
- 4 forced fumbles
- and two TD returns on fumble recoveries
He backed that up with an 83rd-percentile 40 time and 78th-percentile speed score at 6'1, 231 pounds.
After reading about Dodson's release, I immediately vaulted Rodriguez's standing in our LB rankings and added him to the top of the queue for my next pick in an ongoing slow draft.
If you can land Rodriguez anywhere from mid-LB2 range down in your IDP draft, I don't think you'll regret it.
Other Winners & Losers: Dodson's Journey Continues
Dodson could be a candidate to land in a needy LB corps elsewhere.
He wouldn't be a lock for full playing time in such a scenario. Dodson has seen starting turns in Buffalo, Seattle, and Miami but failed to last beyond a full season in that role for any of those teams.
He's a solid vet who can collect tackles when on the field but lacks the range of ability to stay in the lineup.
We'll see where the 28-year-old ends up before determining if he'll carry any 2026 IDP relevance.
