The Dolphins didn’t need long to feel good about taking Jacob Rodriguez in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Out of Texas Tech, he arrived with plenty of buzz from draft experts and college football fans, and five games into his pro career, the early returns have backed it up.
Rodriguez has already piled up 57 tackles, an interception and a quarterback hit, and before Miami’s week off he was sitting atop the league in tackles. That’s a strong start by any standard, especially for a linebacker who entered the league with an NCAA record seven forced fumbles last year.
Even with that production, Rodriguez is focused on sharpening the parts of his game that don’t show up first on a stat sheet.
"I think there's a lot of things technique-wise about playing the position," Rodriguez told reporters in the locker room on Wednesday. "I think just getting on and off blocks, working around whatever technique that is, each play, each position on a blocker between the ball carrier (and you), I think depends on what you have to use. So whether you have to use your hands or use your body to get around them, I just need to be better at that."
That kind of self-assessment tracks with the resume he brought from college, where his trophy case already filled up fast. If he keeps tightening up the finer points, the Dolphins could have something even bigger on their hands than the strong opening stretch they’ve already gotten.
In Other News...
Dolphins Face An Awkward Kicking Test In Week 7
The kicking situation in Miami has already become one of those small but meaningful subplots that can linger around a team all season, and Week 7 adds another layer. Jason Sanders, once the Dolphins kicker, is now in New York and set to face Miami for the first time since leaving, giving the game a little extra edge in a spot where special teams can turn from background noise into the headline.
Sanders has been steady enough for the Jets, making 12 of 13 field goal attempts, with the lone misses coming from beyond 50 yards and on an extra point. For Miami, the return trip has a familiar sting after the offseason decision to move on from Sanders over salary, injury concerns and inconsistency, only to recently cut his replacement and bring back an older competitor, leaving the Dolphins still searching for the kind of stability they hoped the change would provide. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Just Sent A Clear Message About Their Kicking Situation
The Dolphins made a swift move at kicker after just five games, swapping out Riley Patterson for Zane Gonzalez as they tried to stabilize one of the most delicate parts of the roster. Pattersons inconsistency on field goals and extra points forced Miami to act, and the decision brought Gonzalez back into the picture after he had already spent time with the organization.
Special teams coordinator Chris Tabor has made it clear why the Dolphins are comfortable with the change. He pointed to Gonzalezs consistency and experience, calling attention to a veteran who has seven NFL seasons behind him and has handled stops with multiple teams. For a team looking for steadiness in pressure moments, Miamis latest move says plenty about how seriously it is treating the kicking spot. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Have A Clear Path Vs Jets But One Problem Keeps Looming
The path for Miami in Week 7 looks fairly clear on paper, starting with a run game that has quietly given the offense some life. Ollie Gordon II has been one of the bright spots with De'Von Achane out, giving the Dolphins a steadier presence between the tackles and helping balance what Mike McDaniels group wants to do offensively. If Miami can keep leaning on that ground game and keep the Jets from turning the contest into a slog, it has a real chance to control the flow.
The bigger concern is whether the Dolphins can clean up the messiness that has followed them on special teams. Even with the matchup shaping up favorably, that phase has a way of creating sudden problems, especially in a game where field position and hidden yards can swing momentum fast. Miami can like its offensive plan and still know there is one area that could complicate everything if it does not improve. [Read more 🡒]