Despite the way the Bears' season ended, the arrow is still pointing up in Chicago. Ben Johnson steps into a promising situation, but there’s no denying the front office has some serious cap gymnastics to pull off this offseason. According to Spotrac, the Bears are currently $9 million over the salary cap-meaning tough decisions are on the horizon.
One name that keeps coming up in those conversations is Tremaine Edmunds. The veteran linebacker led the team in tackles last season, but his struggles in pass coverage were hard to ignore.
If the Bears decide to move on from Edmunds to free up cap space, that opens up a key hole in the middle of their defense. The good news?
There’s a potential replacement already turning heads in Mobile, Alabama.
Keep an Eye on Jacob Rodriguez
The Senior Bowl is always a proving ground for NFL hopefuls, and this week, Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez has made the most of it. On Day 2 of practice, he was everywhere-forcing a fumble against Clemson running back Adam Randal and later laying out for a diving interception over the middle. In one-on-one coverage drills, he showed the kind of sticky man-to-man ability that makes scouts take notice.
Rodriguez isn’t just flashing in practice-his 2025 resume is stacked. He cleaned up the defensive awards circuit, taking home the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (top defensive player), the Butkus Award (top linebacker), the Lombardi Award (top lineman or linebacker), and the Chuck Bednarik Award (another top defensive honor). That kind of hardware doesn’t happen by accident.
Statistically, Rodriguez was a monster for the Red Raiders: 128 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, four interceptions, six pass breakups, and a nation-leading seven forced fumbles. His advanced metrics back it up too.
Pro Football Focus gave him a 93.3 overall grade-best among 804 graded linebackers. He also ranked No. 1 in both run defense (95.3) and coverage (92.7).
In coverage alone, he allowed just 33 receptions for 383 yards and one touchdown all year. That’s elite production at the college level.
A Potential Fit in Chicago
Now, let’s bring it back to the Bears. Edmunds may have racked up tackles in 2025, but his coverage numbers tell a different story: 56 receptions allowed on 71 targets for 530 yards and four touchdowns. That’s not what you want from a modern linebacker, especially in a league that increasingly demands coverage versatility at the second level.
Rodriguez, on the other hand, looks like a linebacker built for today’s game-fast, instinctual, and disruptive in both the run and pass. He’s currently projected as a Day 2 pick, and with the Bears holding the 57th overall selection, there’s a real chance he could be on the board. That said, if he keeps stacking up strong performances throughout the pre-draft process, Chicago might need to consider moving up to snag him.
From a roster-building standpoint, the move makes a lot of sense. Releasing Edmunds would free up significant cap space, and drafting Rodriguez would give the Bears a cost-controlled, high-upside linebacker under contract for at least four years. It’s the kind of move that could pay off both in the short term and down the line.
What About Ruben Hyppolite II?
Chicago did invest a fourth-round pick in linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II last year, but the early returns haven’t been promising. He played in just seven games and finished with six total tackles. That’s not enough to pencil him in as a future starter, and it only strengthens the case for bringing in a player like Rodriguez-someone who could step in and contribute right away.
Bottom line: If the Bears are serious about upgrading their defense without breaking the bank, Jacob Rodriguez should be high on their radar. He’s got the production, the tools, and now the Senior Bowl buzz to back it all up. Keep an eye on this one-it could be a draft-day match that makes a lot of sense for Chicago.