It's great that Cashius Howell looks like the Cincinnati Bengals' most immediately impactful top draft pick since Ja'Marr Chase. However, Howell is not a starter, so as things stand right now, he can only do so much on a diminished snap count.
Week 5's road trip to square off with the 0-4 Dolphins in Miami is a cruel reminder to those of us Bengals fans — and maybe some of the scouts in the team HQ, who knows!? — that Jacob Rodriguez was there for the taking.
Rodriguez is not just starting. He didn't merely play well enough in camp to jettison a veteran in Tyrel Dodson. He doesn't just look "good for a rookie." The guy looks like one of the best linebackers in the entire NFL. Period.
Rodriguez is the game-changer Bengals' front seven desperately needed
When you look back at Cincinnati's draft strategy, it's quite perplexing. Cashius Howell had historically short arms for a defensive end prospect. Jacob Rodriguez is undersized by linebacker standards, yes, but his production at Texas A&M was undeniable.
If you're a linebacker and you finish fifth in Heisman Trophy voting, you might be doing something right. That's what Rodriguez did in 2025 when he forced seven fumbles and had four interceptions.
The Bengals were on the clock with the 41st overall pick in Round 2. They invested a first-rounder in Shemar Stewart at Howell's position the prior year, along with second- and fourth-round selections in Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter at Rodriguez's position.
If you ask me — and maybe you didn't, but you're here reading after all — Rodriguez is the no-brainer pick in that scenario. Alas, Duke Tobin and Co. chose differently.
I was thinking to myself, "Surely I must've advocated for the Bengals to draft Rodriguez on Stripe Hype at some point." And I did:
Let's check in to see how ol' J-Rod is doing!
Jacob Rodriguez among LBs so far this season, per @SumerSports:
— Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) October 5, 2026
Total tackles — T-1st
Run stops — T-2nd
Assisted tackles — 2nd
Interceptions — T-3rd
Solo Tackles — T-7th
TFLs — T-8th
Most tackles EVER by a Dolphins rookie in first 4 games. pic.twitter.com/fhLbb7U2KZ
Again, not that Howell has been a slouch or a colossal disappointment. But guess what!? News flash...
The Bengals defense can't tackle very well, and is averaging 4.5 yards per carry allowed versus the run. Miami is yielding just 3.6 yards per carry despite an anemic offense and allegedly inferior personnel.
The Bengals can't tackle.
— Stick to the Model (@StickToTheModel) October 8, 2026
Throws of 5 yds or less against them:
65 throws, 535 yards.
8.2 a throw. League average: 4.9.
The worst start by any defense since 2006. pic.twitter.com/JA5d5SltUN
Could the linebacker position have something to do with the numbers above? Methinks yes!
You know, like maybe Jacob Rodriguez or Stripe Hype-pushed trade target/reigning first-team All-Pro Jordyn Brooks would've been worthy acquisitions! Maybe Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight Jr. aren't that great!
Not that Carter and Knight have been terrible per se. They look a lot better than they did as rookies. But my goodness, is that a freaking low bar to clear.
Jacob Rodriguez looks like a legit superstar, y'all. And we passed on him. If Howell isn't a historic outlier who becomes a double-digit sack guy despite suboptimal length, this is yet another botch job by the Bengals' perpetually underfunded scouting department.
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