Dolphins' Jacob Rodriguez Not at the Top of Current DPOTY Rankings

The Miami Dolphins may have hit on a generational talent in rookie linebacker Jacob Rodriguez. Granted, this is his first season, but the defender continues to shine.

Rodriguez is a favorite to win Defensive Rookie of the Year, but ESPN's Bill Barnwell sees him lagging behind his competitors.

It was a major surprise when the Dolphins decided to cut Tyrel Dodson, as it was Rodriguez who supplanted the rookie and was awarded the green dot on defense. The green dot is reserved for linebackers who call the defensive schemes and get everyone set.

For a rookie linebacker to earn that honor is a big deal. Considering Miami's roster age, rookie players were set to get some sizable playing time, but Rodriguez has taken full advantage of that.

Rodriguez currently leads the NFL with 24 defensive stops, per Pro Football Focus. He is also second in tackles with 46. However, Barnwell sees him sitting in third for the award.

"Rodriguez has had his issues handling play-action this season, but he has been an impact defender against the run. The second-round pick has made tackles on nearly 24% of designed runs against the Dolphins, the 12th-best rate among players with 150 defensive snaps or more this season," Barnwell said.

Barnwell did offer some big praise for the Dolphins rookie, especially when it came to stopping Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III, as Rodriguez stopped him in the backfield on several occasions. 

That has not quite happened with any other teams. The issue that Barnwell has is the problems that the linebacker group has had with play-action passes, which makes sense.

The Dolphins have been getting torn up in the middle of the field, which was evident in Week 4 during the Minnesota Vikings matchup. Tight end T.J. Hockenson went 13-for-13 for 119 yards, which was the main reason that Miami lost.

That issue should not fall squarely on the shoulders of Rodriguez, but he is responsible for ensuring that does not happen, along with Jordyn Brooks. 

Rodriguez is still a rookie and has a lot to learn. He has done well with what he has been given thus far, and the ESPN ranking is only through the first four weeks of the season.

Rodriguez remains the odds-on favorite to win the DPOTY award, as DraftKings has him at +200, which is a shade over second-place Arvell Reese, who has +275 odds.

Reese is also on the ranking from Barnwell, as the New York Giants' rookie is currently Barnwell's top player to win the award.

Again, there are many more games to play. Rodriguez could blow past everyone to win the award, and it could be someone else who emerges and takes a run at the remaining 13 games.

One thing is for sure: the Dolphins may have found themselves about the closest thing they have had to Zach Thomas in Rodriguez. Funny enough, they both are alum of Texas Tech, making the similarities go even farther.