The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a clear directive this offseason: fix the inside linebacker position. It's not a new issue - it lingered last offseason too - but the front office chose to roll with internal options rather than addressing the need through free agency or the draft. That gamble didn’t pay off, and now, with Lavonte David expected to hang up his cleats, the urgency has gone from important to critical.
Enter Jacob Rodriguez.
The Texas Tech linebacker isn't just a promising prospect - he's the kind of player who checks every box for what Tampa Bay needs in the middle of its defense. In fact, calling him a fit almost feels like an understatement.
Rodriguez's 2025 season was one for the books. He swept the major defensive awards - the Chuck Bednarik, Bronko Nagurski, Butkus, and Lombardi - a rare feat that speaks volumes about both his production and presence on the field.
He was a unanimous All-American and the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, and the numbers back it all up: 128 tackles, four interceptions, seven forced fumbles, and a sack. That’s not just filling up the stat sheet - that’s dominating it.
Over his college career, Rodriguez piled up over 300 tackles, 13 forced fumbles, six picks, and six sacks. He’s a turnover machine, plain and simple.
And if you watched the Senior Bowl, you saw more of the same: two forced fumbles and an interception. That’s not just a hot streak - that’s who he is.
Head coach Todd Bowles has made it clear he wants ballhawks on defense. He’s said it at the Combine, and he’s built his schemes around it.
Rodriguez fits that mold perfectly. He’s not just a tackler - he’s a disruptor.
He finds the football and takes it away, which is exactly what Tampa Bay’s defense has been missing at the second level.
Now, there are some questions about Rodriguez’s size and speed. But here’s the thing - he measures almost identically to two guys who redefined the linebacker position in Tampa Bay: Lavonte David and Derrick Brooks.
Rodriguez is 6'1", 235 pounds. David came out at 6'0", 233.
Brooks? 6'0", 235.
That’s not a coincidence - that’s a prototype.
Speed-wise, Rodriguez is estimated to run in the 4.70 range. For context, David ran a 4.65 at the 2012 Combine, and Brooks clocked a 4.67 back in 1995.
So while Rodriguez may not be a burner, he’s right in line with two of the best to ever wear red and pewter. And like those two legends, Rodriguez wins with instincts, preparation, and leadership.
He’s a film junkie with a nose for the ball, and his ability to diagnose plays and get to the right spot is what separates him from other prospects.
The comparisons to David and Brooks aren’t just about size or stats. It’s about how Rodriguez plays the game - fast mentally, aggressive physically, and always around the football. That’s the kind of linebacker who doesn’t just fill a need - he becomes the heartbeat of a defense.
Currently projected as a Day 2 pick, Rodriguez’s draft stock mirrors David’s path to the NFL. David went 58th overall in 2012 and became the foundation of the Bucs’ defense for over a decade. Rodriguez could follow a similar trajectory - a second-round steal who becomes a long-term solution at a critical position.
Tampa Bay can’t afford to miss on this one. With David likely stepping away and the linebacker room in need of a reboot, Rodriguez offers both immediate impact and long-term upside. He’s the kind of player who fits the Bucs’ culture, fills a glaring hole, and brings the kind of playmaking edge that’s been missing since David’s prime.
If the Buccaneers want to keep building a defense that can win games - not just hold the line - Jacob Rodriguez should be high on their draft board. He’s not just a fit. He’s the future.