Dolphins coach explains why he was surprised to get player in draft

The Miami Dolphins added two talented players in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft, but fans of the team seem to be more excited about their second-round pick, Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez.

Even Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley was surprised to get Rodriguez in the second.

"One guy I didn't think would be there when we took him was probably Rodriguez," Hafley told future Hall of Fame cornerback Richard Sherman on his podcast this week. "I thought he would have been picked sooner. Just his college tape, I think the upside, I think the potential, I think the leadership capability, the playmaking ability, the production. I thought he would have been gone by that pick. So when he was still there, that one, we were all pretty excited about that pick."

Rodriguez, 23, spent one year at Virginia before transferring to Texas Tech for the final four years of his college career. He earned All-Big 12 honors twice and All-American honors once. In 56 games between the two schools, he recorded 317 tackles, 13 forced fumbles, 12 passes defensed, six sacks, six interceptions and five fumble recoveries.

While Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson are likely Miami's starting linebacker duo in 2026, Rodriguez could certainly earn rotational snaps as a rookie before taking over one of the spots in his second year.

More Dolphins: Coach Jeff Hafley is doing something Mike McDaniel could've benefited from

This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: Dolphins coach explains why he was surprised to get player in draft