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Off-ball linebacker is a position a bit undervalued by some media and possibly even some NFL teams. However, all the top defenses have one. Since 2018, the New Orleans Saints had their own in Demario Davis, one of the league's top defenders. Davis left this offseason as a free agent. Although the Saints filled his spot by re-signing a solid player in Kaden Elliss, they may look to add a top-tier linebacker like Jacob Rodriguez of Texas Tech with an early draft choice.
Elliss joins 2025 rookie Danny Stutsman, steady but limited veteran Pete Werner, and the athletic Isaiah Stalbird at linebacker. It's a solid group, but the dynamic tenacity and elite instincts of Davis will be missed. The Saints could look to replace those traits with a projected Day 2 choice like Rodriguez.
A three-star recruit at S.H. Rider High School in Texas, Rodriguez would initially commit to the Virginia Cavaliers as an offensive player. He'd be listed as a quarterback during his freshman year of 2021 at Virginia, but attempted no passes and had 56 rushing yards along with 8 receptions for 65 yards. After that season, he'd transfer down to the Texas Tech Red Raiders where he would make the switch to defense. In his first year with Texas Tech, Rodriguez appeared in 12 games as a reserve and had 3 stops for loss among 29 total tackles. Injuries limited him to five games in 2023, but he still managed 32 total stops and also recorded his first career interception.
Rodriguez had his breakout year in 2024. He led Texas Tech with 127 tackles and had an a Big 12 leading 77 solo stops. Included in that was 10.5 tackles for loss and 5 sacks along with an interception, 5 passes broken up, and 3 forced fumbles. Those numbers earned him 1st Team All-Big 12 recognition. The best was yet to come.
Last season, Rodriguez solidified a high status among NFL scouts. He again led the Big 12 in solo tackles (63) and had 128 total stops with 11 for negative yardage and a sack. Rodriguez also broke up 6 passes, recorded 4 interceptions, and tied an NCAA record with 7 fumble recoveries. For all that he not only repeated 1st Team All-Big 12 honors and was a unanimous 1st Team All-American, but was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and received the Butkus Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, and the Chuck Bednarik Award.
Rodriguez has even gotten some first round buzz, but will most likely be a second round choice. Most believe he'll be the second off-ball linebacker selected after versatile Ohio State star Sonny Styles. Possessing his own versatility, Rodriguez has shown that he can blitz effectively and is a potential star in both coverage and run stopping duties. He has the upside of being an every down starter very early in his career.
In Demario Davis, the Saints had a player with elite instincts who could make plays in coverage, against the run, or as a blitzer. Signing Kaden Elliss was a wise move, but New Orleans might want even more here to pair with Elliss, Stutsman, and Stalbird. While the Saints have more pressing needs early in the draft, if Jacob Rodriguez is there with their second round pick it may be extremely tempting to add him as a centerpiece for a young defense.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez scouting report
Continue reading...
Elliss joins 2025 rookie Danny Stutsman, steady but limited veteran Pete Werner, and the athletic Isaiah Stalbird at linebacker. It's a solid group, but the dynamic tenacity and elite instincts of Davis will be missed. The Saints could look to replace those traits with a projected Day 2 choice like Rodriguez.
Jacob Rodriguez bio
- Position: Linebacker
- College: Texas Tech Red Raiders
- Height: 6-feet, 1 inch
- Weight: 231 pounds
- 40-yard dash: 4.51 seconds
- 10-yard split: 1.6 seconds
- 3-cone drill: 6.9 seconds
- 20-yard shuttle: 4.19 seconds
- Vertical jump: 38'5"
- Broad jump: 10'1"
A three-star recruit at S.H. Rider High School in Texas, Rodriguez would initially commit to the Virginia Cavaliers as an offensive player. He'd be listed as a quarterback during his freshman year of 2021 at Virginia, but attempted no passes and had 56 rushing yards along with 8 receptions for 65 yards. After that season, he'd transfer down to the Texas Tech Red Raiders where he would make the switch to defense. In his first year with Texas Tech, Rodriguez appeared in 12 games as a reserve and had 3 stops for loss among 29 total tackles. Injuries limited him to five games in 2023, but he still managed 32 total stops and also recorded his first career interception.
Rodriguez had his breakout year in 2024. He led Texas Tech with 127 tackles and had an a Big 12 leading 77 solo stops. Included in that was 10.5 tackles for loss and 5 sacks along with an interception, 5 passes broken up, and 3 forced fumbles. Those numbers earned him 1st Team All-Big 12 recognition. The best was yet to come.
Last season, Rodriguez solidified a high status among NFL scouts. He again led the Big 12 in solo tackles (63) and had 128 total stops with 11 for negative yardage and a sack. Rodriguez also broke up 6 passes, recorded 4 interceptions, and tied an NCAA record with 7 fumble recoveries. For all that he not only repeated 1st Team All-Big 12 honors and was a unanimous 1st Team All-American, but was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and received the Butkus Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, and the Chuck Bednarik Award.
Strengths
- Outstanding agility to knife through creases to the ball
- Often hard for blockers to track down because of his terrific mobility
- Necessary physicality for the trenches
- Great feel and instincts in coverage
- Tenacious run defender with high tackle production
- Rapid improvement after switch to linebacker
Weaknesses
- Still learning the nuances of the position
- Can be lured out of position by misdirection
- Needs to play with better leverage against blocks
- Must improve play diagnosis
- Over aggressiveness in coverage led to breakdowns
- Tendency to over-run off-tackle plays, leading to cutback lanes
Jacob Rodriguez 2026 draft outlook
Rodriguez has even gotten some first round buzz, but will most likely be a second round choice. Most believe he'll be the second off-ball linebacker selected after versatile Ohio State star Sonny Styles. Possessing his own versatility, Rodriguez has shown that he can blitz effectively and is a potential star in both coverage and run stopping duties. He has the upside of being an every down starter very early in his career.
In Demario Davis, the Saints had a player with elite instincts who could make plays in coverage, against the run, or as a blitzer. Signing Kaden Elliss was a wise move, but New Orleans might want even more here to pair with Elliss, Stutsman, and Stalbird. While the Saints have more pressing needs early in the draft, if Jacob Rodriguez is there with their second round pick it may be extremely tempting to add him as a centerpiece for a young defense.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez scouting report
Continue reading...
