In their first season under head coach Mike Vrabel, the New England Patriots nearly captured the Lombardi Trophy. However, they fell just short, losing to the Seattle Seahawks 29-13 in the Super Bowl.
With 11 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft and $40 million in cap space, the Patriots are hoping to reload and finish the job next season. While MVP-finalist Drake Maye led the offense, the defense was among the best in the league.
The unit finished the regular season ranked eighth in total yards allowed per game (295.2) and fourth in points allowed per game (18.8).
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While its linebacker corps isn't the most glaring hole, New England could still use some improvement. To bring in more competition, Athlon Sports' Luke Easterling predicts the Patriots will use the No. 63 pick on Texas Tech Red Raiders linebacker Jacob Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is coming off his best season with Texas Tech. In 14 games, he recorded 128 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, one sack, four interceptions, six pass deflections, a Big 12-high seven forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. The Red Raiders ranked third in the nation in total yards allowed and points allowed.
His impact on the field led to multiple honors, including being an AP first-team All-American and the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. Rodriguez was also recognized as one of the top players in college football, finishing fifth in Heisman Trophy voting.
The Patriots regularly run a 3-4 defense, meaning there are two inside linebackers on the field at a time. If Rodriguez were to make an immediate impact, he could be paired alongside New England's Robert Spillane, who earned a PFF overall grade of 76.3, 12th among 88 qualified linebackers, in 2025.