With Patrick Queen and Cole Holcomb getting long in the tooth at inside linebacker, Jacob Rodriguez would be an exciting complement to Payton Wilson in the middle of Pittsburgh’s defense. Rodriguez boasts high tackle totals, a nation-leading seven forced fumbles in 2025, and ranks fourth out of all linebackers in the class in terms of athleticism. His combination of production and athleticism makes him a high-value pick in the third round.

The thing that could hold Rodriguez back in the NFL is the mistakes made in pursuit and pass coverage. Despite the occasional breakdowns in fundamentals, his upside makes him an intriguing prospect at this point in the draft. The good thing is that the mistakes he makes are correctable, so NFL-caliber coaching should shore up the weaknesses in his game.