Bucs Projected to Draft Elite 'Long Term Starter' at Inside LB

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. predicts the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will find a long-term solution at inside linebacker with Texas Tech's Jacob Rodriguez.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 11:21pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a football player in the midst of making a tackle, with the player's body broken down into overlapping planes of red, pewter, and white.The Buccaneers hope to find their next dominant inside linebacker in the 2026 NFL draft with the selection of Texas Tech's Jacob Rodriguez.Lubbock Today

ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr.'s latest mock draft has Texas Tech inside linebacker Jacob Rodriguez going to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2nd round with the No. 46 overall pick. Rodriguez, a do-it-all athlete, would be a ready-made replacement for the recently retired Lavonte David, who played all 14 seasons of his NFL career with the Buccaneers.

Why it matters

The Buccaneers might look at their own recent history as the best evidence of why they should take Rodriguez in the early rounds. The last time the Buccaneers drafted an inside linebacker in the 1st 2 rounds it was LSU's Devin White at No. 5 overall in the 2019 NFL draft, which kicked off one of the great 4-season runs for a defensive player in franchise history.

The details

Rodriguez, 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds, ranked second in tackles in the FBS over the past two seasons (252). In his final college football season, he led the Red Raiders to the College Football Playoff for the 1st time in program history and was a unanimous All-American, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, and won the Nagurski Trophy as well as the Butkus Award, Lombardi Award, and Chuck Bednarik Award.

  • Rodriguez elevated his draft stock with a bravura performance at the NFL scouting combine, where he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.57 seconds and registered a 38.5-inch vertical leap.

The players

Jacob Rodriguez

A do-it-all athlete who seems ready-made to make plays in the middle of an NFL defense. Rodriguez ranked second in tackles in the FBS over the past two seasons (252).

Lavonte David

The recently retired linebacker who played all 14 seasons of his NFL career with the Buccaneers.

Devin White

The LSU linebacker drafted by the Buccaneers in the 1st round (No. 5 overall) in the 2019 NFL draft, who went on to have a dominant 4-season run with the team.

Carson Schwesinger

The Cleveland Browns inside linebacker and 2025 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, who was a 2nd round pick (No. 33 overall) in 2025.

Mel Kiper Jr.

The ESPN draft expert who has Rodriguez going to the Buccaneers in the 2nd round with the No. 46 overall pick in his latest mock draft.

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What they’re saying

“'Lavonte David retired this offseason, ushering in a new era at linebacker for the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay signed Alex Anzalone, and now it can add a true tackling elite. Rodriguez ranked second in tackles in the FBS over the past two seasons (252).'”

— Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN Draft Expert

“'Rodriguez arrived in college as an offensive 'athlete' and leaves Texas Tech as a bigger-than-life, stat-stuffing linebacker. He's uniquely productive, with elite tackle, interception and forced fumble production. He'll occasionally bounce out of a run fit when chasing action, but he has the burst to race back inside and finish. He's slippery working off blocks and navigating combo climbers. His lateral pursuit leaves the station on time and with a fast take-off … he projects as a long-term starting inside linebacker.'”

— Lance Zierlein, NFL Draft Analyst

What’s next

The Buccaneers will have to decide whether to select Rodriguez with the No. 46 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

The takeaway

The Buccaneers' recent history of drafting elite inside linebackers like Devin White suggests they could be poised to find another long-term solution at the position by selecting Rodriguez, who has the potential to make a similar impact on their defense.