Jeremy Fowler reveals likely LB2 in NFL Draft behind Sonny Styles

Positional value is one of the themes of this NFL Draft. While the draft isn’t viewed as a very strong one at the very top, outside of presumed No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza, there are some blue-chip prospects at non-premium positions, bringing up the debate of how early they should be drafted.

Caleb Downs at safety is one of those, while Jeremiyah Love at running back is another. However, some scouts have Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles ranked as one of the top players in the draft, and he is expected to go in the top 10 as a result. Outside of Styles, this is a very deep class at off-ball linebacker, and there has been a lot of debate about who will be the second player taken at the position.

Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez emerged as arguably the best linebacker in college football last season, even earning Heisman Trophy consideration during a magical season for the Red Raiders. Now, he has emerged as the likely second linebacker off the board, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

“Asked several NFL scouts to predict which off-ball linebacker goes second at the position this week, after Sonny Styles. The consensus was Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez,” Fowler reported on X, formerly Twitter. “Carolina and Buffalo are among teams that did extensive homework on Rodriguez.”

Rodriguez was lower on most draft boards during the season due to perceived athletic limitations, but he has tested well during the pre-draft process to put a lot of those concerns to bed. Now, he is emerging as LB2 in the class after an ultra-productive season where he recorded 128 combined tackles, 11 tackles for loss, seven forced fumbles and four interceptions before finishing fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting.

Other contenders to be the second linebacker off the board include CJ Allen from Georgia and Anthony Hill Jr. However, it seems as if Rodriguez is gaining a lot of momentum to be that guy and to potentially even hear his name called near the end of the first round on Thursday night.

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