ESPN lists popular mocked linebacker to Colts as ‘best team fit’ ahead of ‘Day 2’
There’s been a lot of media projection connecting Rodriguez to the Colts in ‘Day 2’ of the draft.
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - AUGUST 31: Jacob Rodriguez #10 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders defends during the first half of the game against the Abilene Christian Wildcats at Jones AT&T Stadium on August 31, 2024 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) | Getty Images According to ESPN’s Benjamin Solak, t he Indianapolis Colts selecting Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, who’s consistently been a popular mock draft pick to the Horseshoe in the 2nd round, would be among their best team fits for potential ‘Day 2’ selections —coming in at Pick #47 or maybe even earlier in a trade up, as alluded to by Solak below: LB Jacob Rodriguez to the Colts Where it could happen: No.
47 (but probably earlier) Why it needs to happen: The Colts entered the draft with a lot of needs and no first-round pick. That’s never fun. They could address all three levels of the defense here, but the linebacker situation is dire.
Veteran LB3 Akeem Davis-Gaither is currently LB1, with Austin Ajiake and Jaylon Carlies jockeying for the LB2 spot. It’s the most inexperienced and unexplosive linebacking group in the league. Rodriguez has ridden a breakout 2025 season into a strong predraft process.
He dominated at the Senior Bowl and tested great at the combine, which matters to general manager Chris Ballard. Finding a shotcaller at linebacker is just as critical as finding high-level traits, and Rodriguez is a two-time captain at Texas Tech who ran the defense the way you’d expect an ex-quarterback to do so. He’s a film grinder and turnover machine (seven forced fumbles and four picks last season), bringing playmaking to a position where Colts players have struggled in coverage.