Colts take talented ‘plug-and-play’ linebacker and edge help in NFL.com’s latest Day 2 mock draft

Rodriguez is an off-ball linebacker with outstanding instincts, playmaking ability and intangibles. He’s a dominant player against the run, sorting through the muddy box to locate ball-carriers and bring them to the ground. He finds a lane and attacks with inside-out leverage. He’s a tackle for loss machine. His lateral range is excellent, too. In pass coverage, he’s best utilized as a zone dropper. He relies on his awareness/feel for the game to position himself for interceptions and pass breakups. In man coverage, he does have some issues when he’s asked to stop/start and mirror. He has a unique ability to punch the ball away as a tackler, leading to 13 career forced fumbles, including seven last season. Overall, Rodriguez is polished and equipped to make an immediate impact. Meanwhile, Barham is a 6,’3.5”, 240 pound senior edge (with 32 3/8” arms), who recorded 32 tackles (21 solo), 10 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, 3 passes defensed, and a forced fumble during 12 starts this past season. He was formerly a Freshman All-American with the Maryland Terrapins back in 2022. : Overview