MIAMI GARDENS — After the Miami Dolphins secured an offensive lineman and cornerback in the first round of the NFL draft Thursday, they went linebacker in the second round Friday.

The Dolphins selected Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez with their second-round pick, at No. 43 overall.

Rodriguez measures in at 6 feet 1 3/8, 231 pounds and was a tackling machine for the Red Raiders, the same school which produced current Dolphins All-Pro linebacker Jordyn Brooks and Hall of Famer Zach Thomas.

“It means a lot to me,” Rodriguez said of following in their footsteps. “Jordyn has given me a lot of words of wisdom as I’ve gone through my years here, and then, I was able to create a good relationship with Zach Thomas. He’s been mentoring me and letting me reach out to him for any questions I have.”

Brooks was so fired up over the pick, he actually got in his car and hustled over to Dolphins facilities to join the team’s war room.

Rodriguez had accolades galore in college. Last season, he was a first-team All-American, the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Bednarik Award (nation’s top defender), Lombardi Award (nation’s top lineman) and Butkus Award (nation’s top linebacker).

“We’re buzzing in there in the room,” Dolphins assistant general manager Kyle Smith said of adding Rodriguez, a defender who is expected to be a leader.  “Jacob’s a guy we’ve coveted for a long time. … Jacob’s one of those guys, that’s a flag-bearer, captain, going to walk in Day 1 and be that type of guy. (He) takes the ball away, run game, pass game, three-down player. Go down the list of every single attribute that you want in an inside ‘backer.”

Added GM Jon-Eric Sullivan later Friday night: “The tape speaks for itself. He’s all over the field. He makes plays everywhere. His instincts are second to none. He can play in space on third downs, and he’s going to help this football team.”

In 14 games, Rodriguez had 128 tackles. He was highly productive on the ball, perfecting the craft of punching the ball out against ball-carriers with seven forced fumbles in 2025. He added four interceptions, 11 tackles for loss with a sack and six pass breakups.

In 2024, Rodriguez had 127 tackles with 10 1/2 tackles for loss, five sacks and three forced fumbles.

“There’s not really a thing on tape from a stat line that I don’t think he hasn’t done — punch-outs, PBUs in the pass game, interceptions in the pass game,” Smith said. “He’s got a unique spatial awareness, ability to play in space, feeling where his zones are and where bodies are from the other team and he closes them down in a hurry.”

Rodriguez, being the leader he is, credited teammates for scooping up the fumbles he forced when asked about his fumble-forcing acumen.

The Dolphins chose to go with an off-ball linebacker, where they have returning starters in Brooks and Tyrel Dodson, over the likes of greater perceived needs like edge rusher, wide receiver and safety.

Sullivan said Rodriguez will wear the green dot as the player who receives radio communication from coach Jeff Hafley, who will call Miami’s defense, in due time. That belonged to Dodson last season. It now appears the two will be competing to start at the “Mike” linebacker spot, with Brooks handling the “Will.”

When the Dolphins were on the clock at 43, other available players included edge rushers like Missouri’s Zion Young, Michigan’s Derrick Moore and Illinois’ Gabe Jacas, Alabama wide receiver Germie Bernard and Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren.

Dolphins Deep Dive: Perkins, Furones on Miami’s Day 2 selections in draft | VIDEO

Before Miami’s top Day 2 selection, prospects taken earlier in the second round included wide receivers Da’Zhaun Stribling of Ole Miss (No. 33, San Francisco) and Washington’s Denzel Boston (No. 39, Cleveland) and edge rushers in Clemson’s T.J. Parker (No. 35, Buffalo), Oklahoma and Cardinal Gibbons High alum R Mason Thomas (No. 40, Kansas City) and Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell (No. 41, Cincinnati).

Miami took massive Alabama offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor at No. 12 in Thursday’s first round and San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson with the 27th pick.

To wrap up Day 2, the Dolphins took a pair of wide receivers and an in-line blocking tight end with their three picks in the third round.

First, they doubled down on Texas Tech prospects, taking wide receiver Caleb Douglas following the Rodriguez pick. Miami then snagged Ohio State tight end Will Kacmarek and Louisville wideout Chris Bell.