{"id":565474,"date":"2026-04-05T05:42:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T05:42:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/565474\/"},"modified":"2026-04-05T05:42:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T05:42:10","slug":"nfl-scouts-think-the-2026-draft-has-the-next-charles-tillman-there-is-one-problem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/565474\/","title":{"rendered":"NFL Scouts Think The 2026 Draft Has The Next Charles Tillman \u2014 There Is One Problem"},"content":{"rendered":"

Charles Tillman has gone down in history as the greatest cornerback ever to play for the Chicago Bears<\/a>. That really isn\u2019t up for debate. He was fantastic for almost a decade with the organization, and literally changed the game of football as we know it. His incredible ability to force turnovers with his patented \u201cPeanut Punch\u201d has been copied and coached for over a decade since he retired. The Bears have had some really good cornerbacks since his departure, but none of them have quite captured the same aura as Tillman had.<\/p>\n

You can bet for certain the organization would jump at the chance to land another player like him if they felt he was in this 2026 draft class. Well, it turns out, some NFL scouts believe that is the case. However, there is one problem.<\/p>\n

He is a linebacker.<\/p>\n

Bob McGinn of Go Long spoke to league evaluators about Texas Tech standout Jacob Rodriguez. They see a tough, athletic, and hyper-instinctive playmaker who served as the beating heart of one of college football\u2019s best defenses. They also see a savant at forcing turnovers.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udd25 Subscribe to the Untold Chicago YouTube channel<\/a> to hear Chicago legends tell stories you\u2019ve never seen in headlines \u2014 real moments, real experiences, straight from the athletes themselves.<\/p>\n

\u201cInstinctive as shit. He\u2019s quick, he triggers. Tough as hell. He\u2019s fast. His only issue is he\u2019s got those short arms (30 7\/8). It does show up in space when he can\u2019t finish on tackles. He\u2019ll make 10 and then miss two, something like that. He\u2019s going to have some missed tackles but he\u2019s going to make a ton, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat his superpower is is just the instincts,\u201d a third scout said. \u201cHe has a knack for creating turnovers \u2013 whether it\u2019s in the passing game getting his hands on balls for interceptions or punching the ball out. He has some Charles Tillman to him. Like it\u2019s part of who he is as a tackler. He goes for the ball and it shows up. He\u2019s a high-character dude.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rodriguez has all the Charles Tillman traits except two.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s not 6\u20192\u2033 with 33-inch arms and isn\u2019t a cornerback. Many deem the linebacker, at 6\u20191\u2033 with 30-inch arms, shorter than preferred for his position. However, that didn\u2019t seem to matter much. Opponents still felt his wrath on many occasions. Not only was he elite at taking the ball away, but he was also lauded as a standout leader who constantly pushed his teammates. We talked about aura before, and Rodriguez has it. That is something the Bears\u2019 defense is frankly missing. They have talent, but no substance.<\/p>\n

This young man would change that. He might not be the superstar they seek, but players like him always carve out long careers thanks to their sheer understanding of the game. He is a good enough athlete to survive at this level, just like Charles Tillman was. The tricky part will be when to grab him. Most experts believe he will go in the 2nd round. That is great for the Bears since they have two picks in that range. The problem is that both are toward the bottom, which means he\u2019d likely be gone.<\/p>\n

Jacob Rodriguez is a LB prospect in the 2026 draft class. He scored an unofficial 9.23 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 249 out of 3215 LB from 1987 to 2026.<\/p>\n

Splits projected, all times unofficial, agilities left to run, bench tomorrow.https:\/\/t.co\/T8BRly26NQ<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Ys4EWV6Rue<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 RAS.football (@MathBomb) February 27, 2026<\/a> Dennis Allen would love Rodriguez.<\/p>\n

The Bears\u2019 defensive coordinator is less concerned about size at the position than he is about range. They must be athletic enough to play in coverage while still handling their responsibilities around the line of scrimmage. Rodriguez showcased that ability with his four interceptions last season for the Red Raiders. He may not be tall, but he is plenty thick enough to handle the pounding of the NFL trenches. The Bears have said they want more playmakers. This young man is the epitome of it.<\/p>\n

Being connected to Tillman is plenty interesting despite playing a different position. The point is that Rodriguez has the natural instincts of taking the ball away. It isn\u2019t something that comes around often. While fans might prefer it in the form of another cornerback, the truth is they should be eager to grab it in any form. Turnovers are turnovers, regardless of who forced them. This guy can play. If the Bears\u2019 coaches can figure out what to do with him, they shouldn\u2019t be getting paid.<\/p>\n