Jacob Rodriguez: Steelers' Linebacker Draft Target

0:00It's March 31st. Welcome in. This is NFL News Today, where football meets AI. The 2026 NFL Draft is stacking up as one of the deepest linebacker classes in years, and Pittsburgh Steelers fans should circle Texas. Tech stand out Jacob Rodriguez as a prime target. This 6'1-231-pound beast clocked a 4.5740-yard dash, projecting as a late second-round pick with a grit to thrive in the steel city. Rodriguez shines as an elite run defender, always staying squared up on ball carriers and using strong hands to shed blocks like they're nothing. His coverage instincts pop too, turning chaos into turnovers, with career highs that scream impact player. Over his college career, his stats exploded from modest numbers early on, with just a handful of tackles and fumbles forced to dominating lately with over 120 tackles each of the last two seasons, double-digit tackles for loss, and a wild 13-force fumbles plus six-picks total.

1:03That kind of production fits right into Pittsburgh's hard-nosed defense. Scouts flag a few concerns, though, like his slightly undersized frame, shorter arm length at 30 and 7-8 inches, and some hiccups reading. Play action or staying sticky in coverage. Still, his motor and violence at the point of attack make him a skin fit. As the draft nears, keep watching Rodriguez. He could be the linebacker injection the Steelers need to reload that front seven and keep punting rings.