The Cincinnati Bengals held a visit with a linebacker this week.
The Cincinnati Bengals are continuing their pre-draft evaluations as they look to strengthen a defense that has undergone transition over the past two seasons.
With the 2026 NFL Draft approaching in less than two weeks, the Bengals have been active in bringing in prospects who could fill immediate needs or develop into long-term contributors.
This week, they hosted one of the most established defenders in the entire draft class, signaling a clear effort to reinforce the middle of their defense. Last year, the defense consistently let Joe Burrow and the offense down, allowing 28.9 points per game which was the third worst in the NFL.
“Former Texas Tech LB Jacob Rodriguez is on a visit with the Bengals, per source,” reported Tom Pelissero of NFL Network on Friday.
The visit reflects Cincinnati’s legitimate interest in a player whose college resume stands out among this year’s linebacker group and whose profile aligns with the traits the Bengals have traditionally valued.
Rodriguez enters the draft with one of the most accomplished careers of any defender available. Across 56 college games, he recorded 317 total tackles, six sacks, 25.5 tackles for loss, six interceptions, 12 passes defended and 13 forced fumbles.
His production matched his accolades. Over the past two seasons, he earned All-Big 12 honors before becoming a unanimous All-American in 2025. That same year, he swept the major defensive awards, winning the Nagurski, Butkus, Lombardi and Bednarik trophies. Few defenders in this class can match that combination of volume, versatility and impact.
Rodriguez spent four of his five college seasons at Texas Tech, where he became the emotional and physical leader of the Red Raiders defense. Pelissero also noted that his NFL comparison is Carson Schwesinger, a player known for instincts, range and toughness.
Those traits fit what Cincinnati has often prioritized at linebacker, especially as they continue reshaping the second level of their defense after multiple departures and injuries.
The Bengals could use a player with Rodriguez’s profile. Their defense has talent but needs more playmaking and stability at linebacker, particularly after inconsistent production in coverage and tackling last season.
Whether Rodriguez will be available when Cincinnati is on the clock remains unclear, but bringing him in for a visit shows the team is doing its homework on one of the draft’s most productive defenders and one of the safest projections in the class.
If the Bengals believe Rodriguez can translate his college dominance to the NFL, he could become a major piece of their long-term defensive core and a foundational part of the next era of Cincinnati football.