The Miami Dolphins had a solid first day of the NFL Draft, and this continued on Friday. The Dolphins added linebacker Jacob Rodriguez to the roster, their second defensive pick in the 2026 draft. And the NFL World was excited to see him land in Miami.
Dolphins’ Jacob Rodriguez Pick Praised by NFL Analysts
Rodriguez is the kind of player that NFL coaches love to have on the roster. Although he’s not the most athletically gifted player, his intelligence on the field and his performances while at Texas Tech made coaches love him. He is now expected to provide the same kind of effort for the Dolphins.
Former NFL quarterback Kurt Benkert was excited about Miami’s pick. He noted how Rodriguez comes from the same college as Zach Thomas, the legendary Dolphins linebacker who was recently enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
“Same school as the great Dolphin Zach Thomas,” Benkert wrote on X. “Miami gets a DOG.”
Greg Auman, a beat reporter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, lamented how a top linebacker was off the board before the Buccaneers were on the clock again. Linebacker is a position of need for the franchise after Lavonte David’s retirement.
Bucs miss out on top linebacker … https://t.co/taquzo9E17
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) April 24, 2026
Vikings influencer Jason Harmon praised the Dolphins’ move, calling Rodriguez a “turnover machine”. He forced 13 fumbles and noted 7 interceptions during his four-year career at Texas Tech.
Miami is getting an absolute dog and turnover machine in the middle of the field. pic.twitter.com/5SAWqz6HuU https://t.co/MqNjVMCrKH
— Jason Harmon (@JasonHarmonNFL) April 24, 2026
For Gregg Rosenthal, a famous NFL voice, pairing Rodriguez with Jordyn Brooks could bring positive results for Miami. “Jacob Rodriguez and Jordyn Brooks is a demonic LB combo (complimentary),” he wrote on X.
And finally, Dolphins columnist Omar Kelly noted how the Dolphins selected one of his favorite players in the class, even if linebacker wasn’t a major need for the team.
While inside linebacker isn’t a clear cut need for a team filled with needs, Jacob Rodriguez is one of my favorite players in this draft. Instinctive player. Hella productive.
— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) April 24, 2026
Here’s an excerpt of PFSN’s scouting report on Rodriguez, a pick which earned a C+ plus grade in our NFL Draft HQ:
“At 6’1″, 230 pounds, Rodriguez will be a polarizing prospect because of his lacking size and length, and that size profile does negatively affect his block take-on and contact authority. That said, Rodriguez more than compensates with his high-energy athleticism, range, swift processing ability, and truly elite coverage chops.”
BE AN NFL GM: PFSN’s Ultimate GM Simulator
Ultimately, Rodriguez will be expected to become a leader in a team in transition. The Dolphins are entering a new era, and their roster is undergoing a major rebuild. They hope to see the young linebacker become one of the leaders.
