It has been a quiet free agency for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Most of the attention this offseason has focused on the players who left rather than those they added. Longtime receiver Mike Evans signing with the San Francisco 49ers became the defining move of the Buccaneers’ offseason.
Insider Connects Jacob Rodriguez to Tampa Bay’s Second-Round Pick
The Buccaneers turn toward the draft and the task of rebuilding another position that once defined the franchise. Head coach Todd Bowles can no longer ignore that inside linebacker has become the most pressing issue on his roster. Buccaneers reporter Greg Auman recently suggested linebacker Jacob Rodriguez would be an appealing option if he remains available when the Buccaneers pick at No. 46 overall.
“I think Jacob Rodriguez is someone Bucs fans would be excited about as the pick at 46,” Auman wrote on X. “Is he still there? Hard to know, but checks a lot of boxes as someone that would fill a huge need at a non-premium position, which lines up well with second round.”
Rodriguez enters the draft after an extraordinary two-year stretch at Texas Tech. He produced 255 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, 5 interceptions, and 10 forced fumbles across his final two seasons.
The 2025 campaign accounted for much of that dominance with 128 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 4 interceptions, 6 pass breakups, and 7 forced fumbles. Rodriguez also generated a 28.0% pressure rate and finished with a 90.1 PFSN Linebacker Impact Grade.
The accolades quickly followed. Rodriguez captured the Nagurski, Lombardi, Butkus, and Bednarik Awards and was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. His momentum carried into a strong Senior Bowl showing.
Rodriguez earned a PFSN draft grade of 84.26, ranking No. 53 overall and No. 3 among linebackers on the PFSN big board. At 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds, Rodriguez does not possess prototypical linebacker length.
That profile may concern teams that prefer larger off-ball defenders. His athletic profile offsets those concerns. Rodriguez posted a 9.52 Relative Athletic Score during testing. His combined results also produced an interesting comparison. Rodriguez generated a 94% athletic match against Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman.
The Buccaneers’ linebacker situation helps explain why the connection makes sense. Veteran Lavonte David remains one of the most respected defenders in franchise history. Age has begun to show.
The longtime linebacker is now 36 years old and has missed more tackles over the last two seasons than at any point since 2017. Coverage responsibilities have also become more difficult against younger tight ends and running backs.
The Buccaneers hoped SirVocea Dennis would develop into a long-term solution. But the former fifth-round pick struggled to hold up in coverage and often looked overwhelmed when defending in space.
Those issues left the middle of the Buccaneers’ defense vulnerable throughout the 2025 season. The Bucs defense ranked 19th in PFSN’s Defensive Impact Metric. Rodriguez’s instincts and range could help address those problems. His ability to diagnose plays quickly and close passing lanes across the middle fits the Bucs’ system run
Pick No. 46 places the Buccaneers squarely in Rodriguez’s projected range. His profile makes him a prospect worth watching when the Buccaneers are on the clock in the second round.
