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Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez.
When it comes to the man anchoring the inside linebacker position, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been truly blessed.
For 27 out of the last 31 years, the Buccaneers can say they’ve either had a Pro Football Hall of Famer or potential Hall of Famer at the spot. First, with Derrick Brooks (1995-2008) and then with Lavonte David (2012-present) — with both players delivering Super Bowl trophies to Tampa.
Now, with David’s career coming to a close or getting really close to it after 14 seasons, it’s time for the Buccaneers to look to the future. It’s also a position they should almost certainly fill through the NFL draft, with their free agent money much more wisely spent on edge rushers or interior defensive linemen.
In 2026, the best-case scenario would be David comes back on a team-friendly, 1-year contract — he played on a 1-year, $9 million contract in 2025 — and the Buccaneers find their next great inside linebacker of the future in the draft.
In terms of who that might be, there’s probably not a more perfect fit than Texas Tech All-American and Butkus Award winner Jacob Rodriguez, who could be a steal in the later rounds.
“Jacob Rodriguez was hands-down the best linebacker in college football this season,” Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder wrote in his pre-draft evaluation. “The Butkus Award winner is a turnover machine with impressive instincts as a run defender. However, he lacks NFL length/size (listed at 6’1″, 235 pounds) and traits to be a high-level prospect in the 2026 draft class.”
Rodriguez’s Size Should Not Be Issue
While Holder is quick to point out Rodriguez’s size as an issue, please don’t tell that to Brooks (6-foot-1, 235 pounds) or David (6-foot-1, 233 pounds), who were both able to overcome such an incredible disadvantage to dominate NFL competition for a decade-plus each.
Production shouldn’t be an issue for Rodriguez, either, after he led the Big 12 in solo tackles each of the last 2 seasons.
In 2025, he put together a stat line for the ages as he led the Red Raiders into the College Football Playoff for the first time with 128 tackles, 11 TFL, 4 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries and led the nation with 7 forced fumbles.
The big question about Rodriguez is speed, which we should get a better gauge on at the NFL scouting combine, although watching him dominate practices at the Senior Bowl by forcing turnovers and excelling in coverage gave us a clue.
If you want a better idea on how fast Rodriguez is, consider the Wichita Falls, Texas, spent his freshman season at Virginia as a quarterback/running back/wide receiver — typically an indication of an elite athlete.
Bucs, David Called Out for Lackluster 2025
For the Buccaneers, the defense is truly in need of new faces after going 8-9 in 2025 and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2019. Their defense has been an ongoing issue as well — an uninspiring unit for the last 2 years.
Pro Football Focus called David’s contract one of the NFL’s “Worst Free Agent Signings” in 2025.
“It’s hard to entirely pick a bone with retaining a franchise legend, but David’s play nosedived in 2025,” PFF’s Bradley Locker wrote. “The former All-Pro registered a career-low 52.6 overall PFF grade, with coverage the main weakness. Indeed, David’s 132.2 passer rating when targeted was the third-worst for qualified linebackers.”
Tony Adame covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos. A veteran sports writer and editor since 2004, his work has been featured at Stadium Talk, Yardbarker, NW Florida Daily News and Pensacola News Journal. More about Tony Adame
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