Buffalo Bills
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Bills predicted to draft Jacob Rodriguez.
The Buffalo Bills are predicted to make an intriguing decision with the 26th overall pick.
The Bills enter the 2026 NFL Draft with the expectation of adding to their defense. Buffalo has already overhauled some of the defense with new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard in charge.
With that, NFL draft analyst Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic predicted Buffalo will select linebacker Jacob Rodriguez with the 26th overall pick.
“A former dual-threat quarterback, Rodriguez is another ascending talent who hasn’t been at his position long,” Baumgardner wrote. “However, he’s extremely instinctive and a natural fit inside the middle of a defense. He’s a bit light, but his eyes are like tractor beams for the ball.”
Rodriguez is a tackling machine, and he can help replace the void of Matt Milano, who remains a free agent. The former Texas Tech Red Raiders captain was one of the top defensive players in college football this season, and could be a Day 1 starter for the Bills.
Rodriguez recorded 128 tackles, 6 pass defenses, 7 forced fumbles, 4 interceptions, and 1 sack, as he was an impact defender for Texas Tech.
Jacob Rodriguez Scouting Profile
Rodriguez is expected to be a first-round pick after his stellar year at Texas Tech.
The linebacker is a tackling machine and is one of the top linebackers in the NFL Draft. According to his NFL.com scouting profile, Rodriguez rarely gets caught flat-footed in his lateral pursuit, and his field command and instincts are major strengths.
However, a weakness of Rodriguez is his coverage, as sometimes he loses players in coverage, resulting in big plays.
Rodriguez, meanwhile, said at the draft combine that he models his game after Terrel Bernard and Matt Milano.
“I think the two in Buffalo,” Rodriguez said. “I think Terrel Bernard, being Coach (Joey) McGuire’s guy, it’s easy to watch him. But then him and Matt Milano, I think they do things really well being a similar size to what I am.”
Rodriguez could come in and play alongside Bernard and Dorian Williams, and replace Milano in the Bills’ defense. And, given what he said at the draft combine, he could be a great fit in the Bills’ defense.
Bills Want an ‘Aggressive’ Defense
Buffalo fired head coach Sean McDermott, and the team will be changing its defensive system.
New defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard wants the Bills’ defense to be more aggressive and attacking this season.
“We’re going to be an attacking defense up front and in the back end,” Leonhard said. “We’re going to attack the football. The biggest stat in football is turnovers, so we’re going to be aggressive, we’re going to fly around, we’re going to communicate, we’re going to play well together, but we’re going to cause issues for offense, and we’re going to force them to react to us.”
The Bills have been aggressive, adding to their defense, as Buffalo has signed Bradley Chubb, CJ Gardner-Johnson, Dee Alford, and Geno Stone. And, Buffalo is widely expected to be defensive-heavy in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The 2026 NFL Draft is set for April 23-25 in Pittsburgh.