With the No. 43 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft, the Miami Dolphins have selected Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez.

There’s a trend starting to develop with the Dolphins’ draft selections. We’ve now seen this regime log three selections in the top-50. The group of picks are all one-school players, with plus athletic profiles, and a slew of impressive production and accolades throughout the course of their NFL career. He’s also Miami’s second linebacker from Texas Tech — Jordyn Brooks is an alumni as well.

Here’s what you need to know about the pick and how Rodriguez projects to the Miami Dolphins.

What to know about LB Jacob Rodriguez

Age: 23
A to Z Sports Draft Projection: Eventual Good Starter

Career Projection: 

“Jacob Rodriguez is an old-school LB who just so happens to be in the 2026 NFL Draft. He plays like someone from the 2000s with his tenacity, hit power, and overall skill set. He’s a stocky 6-1, neatly 240-pound stacked backer who was beloved by his teammates and voted team captain on a defense that featured multiple draftable prospects.
He’s highly instinctive with the ability to stack and shed blocks, and he doesn’t run away or around offensive linemen like many modern stacked backers. Some teams may worry about his ceiling and durability due to past injuries and age, but his on-ball production and ability to create turnovers are why he’s a widely projected starter at the next level.”

Grading the Dolphins selection of LB Jacob Rodriguez

As we’re getting to know this regime, we’re getting a more and more clear picture of what they covet in their players. Through the lens of what Rodriguez brings between the lines, he’s a three-down linebacker who paired big-time production with an impressive NFL Combine, and a slew of awards. Rodriguez is hailed as the leader of the Tech defense amid their college football playoff run, too.

To offer a grade here, I’ll go back to the words Jon-Eric Sullivan offered when they started this process. They’re aspiring to build the Miami Dolphins from the inside-out. Rodriguez will help man the spine of the Dolphins’ defense and, if paired with Brooks long-term, gives the Dolphins a pair of athletic backs to play in space together.

There were some edge defenders and Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren who may have warranted consideration here, but Rodriguez is another logical fit based on what Sullivan and his staff are telling us matter most to him.

Grade: B

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Kyle Crabbs April 20, 2026