Mel Kiper Calls For Bucs To Make Defensive Pick In Second Round
April 20th, 2026
Love this idea!
Joe would be close to calling the 2026 Bucs draft a success if the Bucs landed this dude.
As Joe has stated, you can never go wrong drafting a ballhawk. And perhaps the best ballhawk in the draft will be lying there on the sidewalk, waiting for Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht to pick him up.
That’s what helmethair Mel Kiper of BSPN thinks — that Texas Tech All-American linebacker Jacob Rodriguez will be there for the taking when the Bucs draft in the second round Friday night at pick No. 46.
46. Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
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).
Joe would be floored if Rodriguez is still on the board after the first 10 picks of the second round, forget No. 46.
Maybe it’s just that NFL defensive coordinators don’t value inside linebackers anymore? But as good as Rodriguez is, it seems crazy to think maybe the best off-ball linebacker in college football would still be on the board after 45 picks.
Then again, Lavonte David was still on the board at pick No. 58 some 14 years ago.
.@BYUfootball @TexasTechFB @Jacob_R_10 if the Cougs wanna a chance to WIN the Big-12 Championship they better figure out a way to block Rodriguez. A legit @HeismanTrophy candidate. #GunsUp #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/eZaaAkM4aD
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) December 5, 2025
April 20th, 2026 at 7:15 am
If he’s the guy you want take him at 15. Forget value. He won’t be there at 46. Heck, he might not be there at 15.
April 20th, 2026 at 7:17 am
I love JRod but he won’t be there at #46. The benefit of trading down from #15 to the late 1st round is to pick up an early rd2 pick and get JRod.
April 20th, 2026 at 7:27 am
I like Rodriguez but his missed tackle rate (16.5%) is one of the highest of all the ILBs in this draft class…
When he gets to the pros will that rate improve?
Probably not.
April 20th, 2026 at 7:29 am
@Marine Buc
Yeah that’s what I worry about with Rodriguez, too!
April 20th, 2026 at 7:29 am
Marine Buc I mean he is a young player still and still developing that can definitely improve lol
April 20th, 2026 at 7:33 am
The Bucs will be able to get an impact ILB at 46
April 20th, 2026 at 7:41 am
trade down and get him!! last time we had that kinda speed at ILB we won it all
April 20th, 2026 at 7:51 am
Dallas is *very* likely to take J-rod at pick 20 in the first round. I’ve read that several places now.
April 20th, 2026 at 7:53 am
I think the Bucs should take J-rod round 1 and Malachi Lawrence round 2. Then go CB or DT, TE etc… Lawrence is really, really good and super fast.
April 20th, 2026 at 8:00 am
Marine Buc
i agree…
and yet folks want a LB that has a missed tackle rate of 16.5% @15 lol….
Anthony Hill and the kid from LSU(Perkins) for good players and they’ll be there in the 2nd or 3rd round…
GO BUCS!!!!
April 20th, 2026 at 8:07 am
For those of you questioning the “missed tackle “ rate: First you have to watch the tape because all “missed “ tackles are not the same.
Secondly, and more importantly is he an upgrade from SVD and 37 year old LVD?
Yes he is…..
Also you don’t draft 2nd round talent with a first round pick, that’s how you become an irrelevant franchise in the NFL
April 20th, 2026 at 8:08 am
For those of you questioning the “missed tackle “ rate: First you have to watch the tape because all “missed “ tackles are not the same.
Secondly, and more importantly is he an upgrade from SVD and 37 year old LVD?
Yes he is…..
Also you don’t draft 2nd round talent with a first round pick, that’s how you become an irrelevant franchise in the NFL.
April 20th, 2026 at 8:09 am
How do DCs not prioritize ILBs when the league loves throwing quick passes to backs, TEs, and slots? We saw how bad our defense was because Dennis couldn’t do the job. Take Rodriguez if you think he’ll become a pro bowl LB. It’s been awhile since Licht drafted a pro bowler.
April 20th, 2026 at 8:13 am
813bucboi. PFF grades are nonsense. Especially missed tackle rates. Marine Buc has good football sense but he is misinformed on this one. Tony worries about missed tackle rate too, so there may be something there? Nope. There isn’t. The guy is a tremendous tackler.
April 20th, 2026 at 8:13 am
J-ROD has the IT factor and is definitely on the radar of other teams! From the Buc’s standpoint, the best hope he isn’t drafted by a division team. Sadly, any quality defensive player will be neutered by the Buc’s HC/DC.
April 20th, 2026 at 8:18 am
I have seen in some mock drafts that CJ Allen seems to drop into the 2nd round as well. I hope Jason Licht is aggressive in this draft and gets the guys he wants by moving around on the first 2 days of the draft.
April 20th, 2026 at 8:19 am
@ Kenton
If the Bucs want an ILB in round #1 – I would prefer if they trade back a few picks (if possible) then draft CJ Allen from Georgia…
If we get J-Rod in round #2 and an OLB/IDL/CB in round #1 I am OK with that as well.
My surprise pick for the Bucs is the OG from Penn State – Ioane. Dude is a beast and our IOL was garbage last season.
Just ask Baker…
April 20th, 2026 at 8:23 am
BTW – CJ Allen led the Bulldogs in tackles last season with a 4.7% MTR…
April 20th, 2026 at 8:25 am
Rodriguez will be a better pro than CJ Allen.
Id be fine if they can’t trade down and grab him at 15.
As for Lawrence, he wont last until 46. Im guessing he goes in round 1 ahead of some the guys all these draft gurus have going in round 1.
JL stays pretty true to his board and drafting BPA, so Im not ruling out a OL or CB bring BPA at 15.
April 20th, 2026 at 8:36 am
Marine Buc. Yeah, I gotta admit Ioane is going to be a great NFL player. CJ Allen is a whale of a player too. And I don’t know how we could pass on that beast from Ohio State, McDonald. As good as I believe Mauch and Bredeson are, I don’t think we can go offensive line first. I think we have to go defense first. And second. And third. And fourth.
April 20th, 2026 at 8:39 am
I keep asking myself ‘Who do the Bucs have on the CURRENT roster on DEFENSE who they can build a TEAM around for a number of years?’ Say over the next 4-8 years. Forget Todd Bowles as HC and Jason Licht as GM.
Personally I’d limit it to (1) Tykee Smith; (2) Jacob Parrish; (3) YaYa Diaby. A bunch of guys fell out because of age (Vea, etc), but many were just ‘pieces in the puzzle’ who could be easily swapped out for better pieces.
Yet that’s not much of a foundation for the future. HOPEFULLY we can draft TWO players this year who’ll become part of that foundation, like we did in 1995 when we drafted Sapp & Brooks. And I’d love to see us take the same approach: NT/DT and ILB. Kayden McDonald in Rnd 1, then Jacob Rodriquez or Anthony Hill or CJ Allen in Rnd 2.
April 20th, 2026 at 8:41 am
@ Kenton
I agree – except your evaluation of Bredeson…
He was mediocre to slightly below mediocre before he blew his hammy.
It would be nice if Bredeson was our main back-up Center/OG instead of our starting OG.
Do you really want to see Dan Feeney, Haggard and Klein back on the field anytime soon?
I don’t…
April 20th, 2026 at 8:43 am
Really think Dallas will take Rodriguez, or Allen at 20. We should take one of them at 15, and not look back.
April 20th, 2026 at 8:45 am
@ DR
I noticed you did not mention Winfield Jr…
Was that intentional?
April 20th, 2026 at 8:53 am
I agree with Marine Buc. He looks like a great prospect and would definitely improve the horrific coverage the linebackers had last year. However, he has an extremely high missed tackle rate. If he is there at 46 grab him but no way is he the 15th best prospect with that high of a missed tackle rate.