Despite the Chicago Bears' playoff exit, the future is bright for Ben Johnson's team. That being said, some moves will need to be made on the roster, as they enter the offseason with -$9 million in cap space, per Spotrac.
That has led to speculation that linebacker Tremaine Edmunds will be released and if so, the Bears will have a void at linebacker. But thankfully for them, they could find a replacement in the NFL draft and there's a player they should pay close attention at the Senior Bowl.
Bears Should Keep Close Eye on Jacob Rodriguez
Senior Bowl practices have taken place this week in Mobile, Alabama. There are more than 130 players down there meeting with teams while also practicing against each other and Texas Tech LB Jacob Rodriguez has been one of the best players on the field.
He was all over the gridiron on Day 2 of practice, where he forced a fumble on Clemson RB Adam Randal and also made a diving interception over the middle of the field. Rodriguez was also sticky in coverage during 1-on-1 practice reps.
After his 2025 season, this isn't a surprise. He won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (top defensive player), the Butkus Award (top linebacker), the Lombardi Award (top lineman or linebacker) and the Chuck Bednarik Award (top defensive player).
For the Red Raiders this past year, he had 128 total tackles, 11 TFLs, four interceptions, six pass breakups and a nation high seven forced fumbles. On Pro Football Focus, he had a 93.3 overall grade (1st among 804 graded LBs), 95.3 run-defense grade (1st among 804 graded LBs), and a 92.7 coverage grade (1st among 804 graded LBs). In coverage, he allowed 33 receptions for 383 receiving yards and one score.
Although the NFL is a different speed, Rodriguez is a player that has all the traits to do that at this level. While Edmunds did led the team in total tackles, he left a ton to be desired a pass defender. In 2025, he gave up 56 catches (71 targets) for 530 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
Based on Rodriguez's resume and what he's doing at the Senior Bowl, he will continue to rise up draft boards. He's expected to be a Day 2 pick and should be an option for the Bears, who own the 57th overall pick in the second round.
They may have to move up for him if he continues to impress teams during the draft process, but he would be a fantastic addition for this team and provide them with a replacement for Edmunds. They would be able to save a bunch of money if they released Edmunds while hopefully getting similar, if not better, production from a player who'd be under contract for at least four years at a manageable number.
Chicago drafted linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL draft but that does not seem to have panned out so far. He appeared in just seven games and finished with six total tackles. His underwhelming campaign is another reason why Rodriguez makes plenty of sense for the Bears.