Jacob Rodriguez keeps giving the Dolphins reasons to believe, and he’s doing it fast.
The rookie linebacker, drafted in the second round this year, has stepped into Miami with the kind of confidence and impact teams usually hope to see much later. His connection to the franchise already had some roots - he was mentored at Texas Tech by Dolphins legend Zach Thomas - but through three NFL games, Rodriguez has been making his own case in a hurry.
Week 3 was another strong example. Facing the Kansas City Chiefs, Rodriguez didn’t blink.
He finished with six total tackles, pushing his season total to 28, and he allowed only two catches for seven yards on three targets in coverage. He also came away with the first interception of his NFL career.
That performance mattered even more because of the opponent. Kansas City came in with Creed Humphrey anchoring the line, Kenneth Walker III as the reigning Super Bowl MVP at running back, and Patrick Mahomes carrying three Super Bowl MVP awards of his own.
For a rookie linebacker, that’s a tough stage. Rodriguez looked comfortable anyway.
The production has been there since the start. He’s already forcing his way into the conversation as one of Miami’s most important young pieces, and the early numbers support it.
Rodriguez is the first NFL rookie to record at least five tackles, three tackles for loss and an interception in a single game since Tampa Bay’s Lavonte David at Denver on Dec. 2, 2012.
That kind of playmaking fits his background. Rodriguez was a former quarterback, and that shows up in the way he reads the game.
He has a feel for route concepts, and the film-study habits that often come with a quarterback’s mind seem to be carrying over well to the defensive side. Turnovers were a calling card at Texas Tech, too: he forced seven fumbles in 2025 and picked off five passes over his final two seasons in Lubbock.
Miami’s confidence in him showed up before the season even began. Head coach Jeff Hafley would not have moved on from incumbent starting linebacker Tyrel Dodson at the end of training camp if Rodriguez wasn’t ready.
Dodson is no throwaway player, but Rodriguez forced the issue. His draft status helped him get into the starting mix alongside first-team All-Pro Jordyn Brooks, but he still had to prove he belonged there.
So far, he has done exactly that.
For a Dolphins team trying to build something new under Hafley, Rodriguez is already showing what it looks like when a young player arrives and starts driving the standard instead of learning it slowly. Miami is counting on a lot of highly drafted young players moving forward, and Rodriguez looks like the kind of defender who can become the centerpiece on that side of the ball - the quarterback of the defense.
In Other News...
Dolphins Defense Is Getting Healthier As One Return Could Matter Most
The Dolphins are starting to get a little healthier on defense, and the timing matters as the season starts to settle in. Cornerback Storm Duck is back at practice as he works his way off the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list, while rookie defensive lineman Trey Moore remains on injured reserve with an ankle injury but is still expected back at some point this season.
Perhaps the most encouraging update comes with Kenneth Grant, who has been out since training camp with a foot and ankle injury. The defensive lineman is progressing well and could be close to a return to practice as early as Week 5, a development that could give Miami a needed boost up front if his recovery continues on schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins May Finally Be Seeing Hope From Two Young Linemen
After another loss to Kansas City dropped Miami to 0-3, the spotlight again landed on an offensive line that has spent much of the early season trying to settle itself. There were still mixed grades to sort through, but rookie left guard Kadyn Proctor and second-year right guard Jonah Savaiinaea gave the Dolphins something they have not had enough of lately: a couple of young linemen trending in the right direction.
Proctor, in particular, showed cleaner work in pass protection and even turned in a key block on a touchdown run, the kind of detail that tends to matter more as the games pile up. Miamis line also kept the Chiefs from recording a sack, which does not erase the bigger issues, but it does at least offer a small sign that the unit may be finding a foothold with two of its youngest pieces. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins May Have A Tough Zach Sieler Decision Coming
The Dolphins have a decision looming with Zach Sieler, and it is the kind that can say a lot about where a team believes it stands. Sieler has been a steady part of Miamis defensive front in recent seasons, even if he has not gotten to the quarterback for a sack this year, and that track record is part of why he is drawing attention as the trade market begins to take shape.
Chicago is one team reportedly eyeing help on the defensive line as it tries to bolster its playoff push, which puts Miami in an awkward spot. Moving Sieler would mean giving up a dependable veteran and hoping the return in draft assets justifies it, while keeping him would signal the Dolphins still value depth and experience on a unit that could use both. The kind of offer that lands in the middle may end up being the real test. [Read more 🡒]