In a league increasingly defined by turnovers and efficiency, linebackers who can process quickly, finish tackles, and take the football away carry premium value. That's precisely what the Washington Commanders should be looking for this offseason, especially with Bobby Wagner likely to retire or take his chances elsewhere in free agency.
And that might just come at some stage during the 2026 NFL Draft.
For Jacob Rodriguez, he isn't simply a high-floor evaluation; he is a tone-setter whose instincts, ball skills, and consistency project him as a long-term core piece of an NFL defense.