The Tampa Bay Buccaneers entered the 2026 NFL Draft with a huge need at inside linebacker, and Jacob Rodriguez was a dream draft fit.
The Bucs found themselves in a difficult position, because if they didn’t draft Rodriguez with their No. 15 overall pick, he wasn’t going to be there when they picked next in the second round.
Tampa Bay ultimately opted to use their first-round draft pick on Rueben Bain Jr., landing the steal of the draft and finally upgrading their pass rush.
And while that pick was an absolute home run, it also served as the writing on the wall for any chance of seeing Rodriguez suit up in red and pewter.
Dolphins just stole Buccaneers’ dream draft prospect Jacob Rodriguez
Just a few picks before the Bucs’ pick at No. 46 in the second round, the Miami Dolphins broke the hearts of Bucs fans everywhere and selected Rodriguez at No. 43 overall.
The Bucs lost out by opting to sit on their hands instead of being aggressive in pursuit of their dream linebacker fit. They’ll still add a talented player at the position, but it leaves a bad taste that Rodriguez was just a few picks away and the team lost out on him rather than trading up in what would’ve been an affordable trade package.
The Bucs will have to watch Rodriguez dominate the NFL right from their backyard for the in-state Dolphins. Hopefully, this mistake doesn’t come back to haunt them for years to come, and the linebacker they ultimately pivot to can make a similar impact.
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