NFL scouting combine gives Denver linebacker option in Jacob Rodriguez

After missing a Super Bowl appearance by one game, the Denver Broncos are looking to regroup, and a priority of theirs at the NFL Scouting Combine is finding inside linebacker talent.

Entering the offseason, linebackers Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad are both set to be unrestricted free agents, while Dre Greenlaw is entering the second year of a three-year contract and has been mentioned as a potential cap casualty due to little guarantee money left on his contract.

Talking with the media at the Combine, Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez revealed that he recently had a combine visit with the Broncos that went really smoothly.

“Their program’s really aligned,” Rodriguez said. “I would love to play in Denver. That’d be great. I think great organization, great coaches, great place to be.”

Linebacker questions loom for Denver

Projected to be a high-upside Day 2 pick, Rodriguez is an intelligent, well-rounded prospect whose background as a former quarterback has translated over to his ability to dissect opposing offenses.

Known as a turnover machine, Rodriguez forced seven fumbles and four interceptions in 2025, which earned him a fifth-place finish in the Heisman Trophy voting.

This trait could be highly beneficial to the Broncos, who, despite finishing as a top-ranked defense, were actually in the bottom half for turnovers, ranked 26th with only 14.

Talking about the state of his inside linebacker room at the combine, Broncos general manager George Paton revealed that he believes this draft class is deep with talent, but also revealed a desire to keep continuity in the room.

“We’d love to have those guys back,” Paton said of Singleton and Strnad. “We’d love to have them back, regardless of what’s in the draft. We see those guys as Broncos. If we let those guys leave, what are we doing?”

Despite the desire, Strnad, 29, might be harder to re-sign as he may wish for an opportunity to be a starter for another organization after spending the majority of the season as a rotational piece behind Singleton and Greenlaw.

If they lose Strnad, it might benefit Denver to bring back Singleton while also drafting Rodriguez.

Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has a history of not giving too much playing time to rookies, and a year to sit and learn the scheme behind two respected veterans like Singleton and Greenlaw could benefit Rodriguez’s development.

With a late first-round pick and Paton’s history of moving back in the draft, Denver could position itself to add Rodriguez to a roster built to contend.