Jacob Rodriguez is turning every week into another argument for why the Miami Dolphins may have landed one of the best defensive rookies in the league.
The linebacker backed it up again in Week 4, piling up 18 total tackles in Sunday’s game in Minneapolis. Nine of those were solo stops, and after four games he’s already up to 46 tackles on the season. That kind of production is impossible to ignore, but what’s making Rodriguez stand out goes beyond the raw numbers.
He’s affecting games in a way few expected this quickly. Offenses are having to account for him.
Linemen are climbing to the second level trying to clear him out of running lanes. Tight ends are getting sent in front of him.
So far, none of it has slowed him down.
That’s a big reason Rodriguez is starting to look like the kind of linebacker opponents have to build a plan around.
It also helps explain why Miami felt so confident handing him the “green dot” for his helmet. Jeff Hafley trusted the rookie to handle the communication duties right away - getting the calls from the sideline, making the defensive adjustments, and lining everyone up correctly. Four weeks in, Rodriguez has handled that responsibility almost flawlessly, despite never having worn it in an NFL game before.
For a player who doesn’t have the classic hulking middle-linebacker build, Rodriguez keeps flashing traits that remind people of another Texas Tech Red Raider alum: Zach Thomas. That comparison still has a long way to go - there are 12 games and another 12 years before anyone can seriously put the two side by side - but the early career path and skill set are close enough to get fans talking.
Rodriguez was already drawing attention after Week 3, when he was nominated for Defensive Rookie of the Week following an eight-tackle performance and a surprisingly athletic interception of Patrick Mahomes. Week 4 gave him another chance to strengthen that case.
His arrival also says plenty about Miami’s draft approach. Jon-Eric Sullivan already had Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson on the roster, and there was uncertainty around Brooks’ future.
If a deal couldn’t get done, Sullivan may have needed to explore a trade and create another opening. Instead, he took the best defensive player on the board, even though plenty of other teams passed on him.
So far, that gamble is paying off. And for Dolphins fans, Rodriguez is becoming a big reason to believe Sullivan and Hafley are building this thing the right way.
In Other News...
Malik Willis Just Became The Dolphins' Biggest Question
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Malik Willis, signed this offseason as a free agent, is now at the heart of the discussion about where Miami goes next. The evaluation is no longer just about short-term steadiness or flashes in isolated moments - it is turning into a much bigger debate over whether he can be the franchise quarterback moving forward, and the next stretch will carry plenty of weight for how that answer takes shape. [Read more 🡒]
Tyreek Hills Next Move Could Hit Dolphins Fans Hard
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Kansas City is already being mentioned as a landing spot once Hill is healthy, which gives the situation an especially familiar twist for both the player and the teams involved. Sources say the Chiefs have strong interest in a reunion, and several current players are reportedly on board with the idea, adding another layer to a comeback that could reshape the late-season market. For Miami, it is a reminder that Hills next move may not just be about football health, but about where one of the leagues most recognizable playmakers chooses to finish his return. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins May Have A New Lead Back While Achane Is Out
Ollie Gordon IIs role changed before Miamis game against the Vikings, when he was moved to backup running back, but the rookie still wound up making the kind of case the Dolphins needed to see with DeVon Achane sidelined. Gordon delivered his first career 100-yard rushing game, added a touchdown and ran with the kind of power that stood out on a night when Miamis ground game needed a lift.
Jaylen Wright got the start in Week 4, but the Dolphins did not get much traction there, and the overall rushing attack has been under strain with key players missing. Gordons emergence gives Miami a more physical option in the backfield while Achane is out, and it at least gives the staff something useful to sort through as it looks for the right answer on the ground. [Read more 🡒]