CFB Star Jacob Rodriguez Eyes 2 Teams as Potential Landing Spots in 2026 NFL Draft

Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez has his eyes on two playoff teams as potential landing spots with the NFL draft approaching.

Dan Parr of NFL.com reported Wednesday that Rodriguez has met with every team, but sees the Chicago Bears and Denver Broncos as clubs that would fit his game.

"They're great," he said of the Bears. "I think a lot of their core pillars as a team align with everything I believe in as well. I've had really good conversations with them."

As for the Broncos, he said, "I had a great conversation with them. I thought everything was really, really smooth. Their room was really aligned. How they were asking questions and what they wanted to know, I think it kind of showed how much they trust each other and trust in the coaching staff. That's why they had a lot of success this year. ... Great organization, great coaches, great place to be. I would be very, very excited to be there."

Both could also be in the market for linebackers, as Alex Singleton is scheduled for free agency in Denver while Tremaine Edmunds' future in Chicago is very much up in the air.

Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reported Wednesday that the Bears gave Edmunds permission to seek a trade since he is due $15 million for the 2026 season and moving him would help alleviate some of the team's salary cap concerns.

Rodriguez would be a younger (and cheaper) replacement for either player if he did end up on the Broncos or Bears and has a bright future if his final collegiate season is any indication.

He finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting as a linebacker and won the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, the Bronko Nagurski Award as the nation's most outstanding defensive player and the Chuck Bednarik Award as the defensive player of the year in the country.

The Texas Tech star led his team to a College Football Playoff spot with 128 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, seven forced fumbles, four interceptions, six passes defended and two fumble recoveries, one of which he returned for a touchdown.

B/R's NFL Scouting Department ranked Rodriguez as the 118th overall player and ninth-best linebacker on its latest big board of prospects, so he may end up being a mid- to late-round draft pick.

But that means he could be quite the value pick for the Bears, Broncos or whichever team selects him.