Improving at the linebacker position this offseason was vital for general manager Dan Morgan and the Carolina Panthers. And he might not be done yet.<\/p>\n
Heading into free agency, the Panthers were expected to be aggressive<\/a> in pursuit of a new man at the defensive second level. As a former linebacker himself, it must have been sickening for Morgan to watch Carolina continue to produce such subpar play at the position since the surprise retirement of Luke Kuechly. \u00a0<\/p>\n The Panthers secured arguably the top free agent available this offseason. Devin Lloyd was a sought-after name, coming off a second-team All-Pro campaign with the Jacksonville Jaguars. His acquisition is a real coup<\/a> for Ejiro Evero and his defense, but finding someone else is imperative.<\/p>\n Carolina Panthers could have a dynamic linebacker pairing in Devin Lloyd and Jacob Rodriguez<\/p>\n With the 2026 NFL Draft<\/a> in Pittsburgh just around the corner, Carolina will look to add another linebacker at some stage, likely early in proceedings. A name being constantly mentioned as a good fit for the Panthers is Jacob Rodriguez.<\/p>\n Rodriguez was the captain of the Texas Tech Red Raiders’ defense as they dominated the Big 12, earning a spot in the college football playoffs. Despite some lingering concerns about his size, he plays with a nastiness the Panthers desperately need. This past season, the former Virginia Caviller posted 117 tackles, four interceptions, and an NCAA record seven forced fumbles<\/a>. \u00a0<\/p>\n With the Panthers’ well-noted struggles in forcing turnovers at the linebacker position since Kuechly abruptly called time on his Pro Football Hall of Fame career<\/a>, adding someone like Rodriguez would be a great fit alongside another ball hawk in Lloyd. While he is far from the prototypical height and weight for a second-level presence in the NFL, it\u2019s a struggle to see how he won\u2019t succeed at the next level. \u00a0<\/p>\n The question for Morgan, Evero, and head coach Dave Canales centers on where they select the prospect. Picking him at No. 19 overall would be a reach despite the immense talent. However, it\u2019s uncertain if Rodriguez will be available for the Panthers’ next pick at No. 51. \u00a0<\/p>\n One potential scenario is the Panthers trading back a few spots in the first round and then using the picks acquired to trade up in the second to select Rodriguez, who would be in immediate contention for a starting role. \u00a0<\/p>\n