Miami Dolphins rookie standout Jacob Rodriguez loses a prestigious distinction ahead of Week 2
Miami Dolphins linebacker Jacob Rodriguez is no longer the only rookie green dot player in the NFL.
The Miami Dolphins handed the keys of their defense to rookie linebacker Jacob Rodriguez ahead of the start of the 2026 season. Rodriguez, after winning a head-to-head battle with veteran linebacker Tyrel Dodson, was given the green dot.
It’s a big chore for any player, let alone a rookie linebacker. Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley even pondered aloud ahead of the season how many rookies actually do it. For Week 1, Rodriguez was the only rookie in the NFL to tackle the assignment. He’s being joined by another rookie linebacker ahead of Week 2 — which gives us a helpful comparison for how Rodriguez is handling the job.
Miami Dolphins linebacker Jacob Rodriguez has company among rookie green-dot defenders
The Dallas Cowboys are joining the party — they’re giving their own green dot assignment to former Michigan Wolverines defender Jaishawn Barham. Barham was a top-100 draft selection in this year’s NFL Draft and offer us a direct comparison of a rookie handling the job of calling a defense. There’s not a one-for-one in regard to the teams’ respective talent, and each scheme will have their own unique wrinkles.
But the gig has welcomed another rookie into the prestigious group. The extra workload didn’t seem to negatively impact Rodriguez in Week 1 against the Las Vegas Raiders. It’s far from a stretch to say Rodriguez was one of the team’s best players last Sunday. Whether that will be the same against vaunted play caller Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 or not is a different story.
But we now get to compare his performance as the on-field play caller to Barham, too. In losing his distinction as the lone rookie doing it, we get a direct comparison from another rookie. You win some, you lose some, I suppose.
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