2026 Cowboys Draft Chatter Thread

Im bracing myself for a Faulk and CJ Allen first round.

Not the worst that they could do and maybe it works out.
 
Cowboysrock55 said:
I've heard it said by others but these were the same folks that thought he was slow. I think he will be great in zone as a play maker. Just not someone you want in man against a RB like 99% of LBers. Let Overshown do that.
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Those other people are just as retarded as Booze then. He is incredible in coverage for a LBer. He struggles with mirroring RBs in man, but what LBer doesn't?
 
Rev said:
Im bracing myself for a Faulk and CJ Allen first round.

Not the worst that they could do and maybe it works out.
Click to expand...

That's like drafting Booker in the first round. You'll get two guys who will start and be ok to good. But never be difference makers.
 
Rev said:
Im bracing myself for a Faulk and CJ Allen first round.

Not the worst that they could do and maybe it works out.
Click to expand...

It solidifies some things and stops some bleeding, but, lacks star power/difference makers.

Which, that's what wins big games.
 
Cotton said:
Led the nation in INTs by a LBer. Led the nation in PDs by a LBer. But, yeah, Jacob Rodriguez is "rough" in coverage. Jesus Christ, Booze.
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Man coverage, sorry should have been more specific. He will need to go to a zone heavier scheme.
 
boozeman said:
Man coverage, sorry should have been more specific. He will need to go to a zone heavier scheme.
Click to expand...
From Grok:

Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech) stands out as the best linebacker in man coverage for the 2025 college football season, based on advanced metrics from PFF (Pro Football Focus).
  • PFF Coverage Grade: Rodriguez posted a 92.7 coverage grade in 2025, which ranked 1st among all FBS linebackers (and led all Power Four LBs specifically). His overall coverage performance was elite, contributing to his 93.0 overall PFF grade (highest among LBs nationally and the best by a Power Four LB since PFF began tracking college in 2014).
  • This includes strong performance in man coverage situations, where he excelled in coverage stops, pass breakups (6 PDs), and interceptions (4 INTs, most among LBs). His run-defense grade (95.3, 1st overall among defenders) complemented his coverage prowess, making him a complete standout.
Other strong contenders in coverage (from PFF and rankings):
  • Anthony Hill Jr. (Texas): Frequently called the "best linebacker in college football" entering 2025 by PFF (with 32 coverage stops since 2023, tied for most among FBS LBs). He had high coverage impact but finished slightly behind Rodriguez in final 2025 grades.
  • Sonny Styles (Ohio State): 87.7 PFF coverage grade (top-tier), with excellent man/zone skills noted in scouting.
  • Whit Weeks (LSU): Strong in coverage (high stops/pressures), ranked in top 3–5 returning LBs pre-2025.
  • Kyle Louis (Pittsburgh): Highlighted for coverage versatility and stops; part of a top LB unit.
Rodriguez's dominance in coverage (especially the 92.7+ grade leading Power Four LBs) edges him out as the top performer in man coverage specifically for the completed 2025 season. He swept major awards (e.g., Bednarik Award winner) and was All-American, underscoring his elite play in coverage, run defense, and turnover creation (7 forced fumbles, FBS leader).If you're looking for raw stats (e.g., man coverage completion % allowed or snaps), PFF premium data has the deepest breakdowns, but publicly, his coverage grade and PD/INT totals make him the consensus top coverage LB. For more on a specific metric or comparison, let me know!
 
Cotton said:
From Grok:

Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech) stands out as the best linebacker in man coverage for the 2025 college football season, based on advanced metrics from PFF (Pro Football Focus).
  • PFF Coverage Grade: Rodriguez posted a 92.7 coverage grade in 2025, which ranked 1st among all FBS linebackers (and led all Power Four LBs specifically). His overall coverage performance was elite, contributing to his 93.0 overall PFF grade (highest among LBs nationally and the best by a Power Four LB since PFF began tracking college in 2014).
  • This includes strong performance in man coverage situations, where he excelled in coverage stops, pass breakups (6 PDs), and interceptions (4 INTs, most among LBs). His run-defense grade (95.3, 1st overall among defenders) complemented his coverage prowess, making him a complete standout.
Other strong contenders in coverage (from PFF and rankings):
  • Anthony Hill Jr. (Texas): Frequently called the "best linebacker in college football" entering 2025 by PFF (with 32 coverage stops since 2023, tied for most among FBS LBs). He had high coverage impact but finished slightly behind Rodriguez in final 2025 grades.
  • Sonny Styles (Ohio State): 87.7 PFF coverage grade (top-tier), with excellent man/zone skills noted in scouting.
  • Whit Weeks (LSU): Strong in coverage (high stops/pressures), ranked in top 3–5 returning LBs pre-2025.
  • Kyle Louis (Pittsburgh): Highlighted for coverage versatility and stops; part of a top LB unit.
Rodriguez's dominance in coverage (especially the 92.7+ grade leading Power Four LBs) edges him out as the top performer in man coverage specifically for the completed 2025 season. He swept major awards (e.g., Bednarik Award winner) and was All-American, underscoring his elite play in coverage, run defense, and turnover creation (7 forced fumbles, FBS leader).If you're looking for raw stats (e.g., man coverage completion % allowed or snaps), PFF premium data has the deepest breakdowns, but publicly, his coverage grade and PD/INT totals make him the consensus top coverage LB. For more on a specific metric or comparison, let me know!
Click to expand...
Jacob Rodriguez is significantly stronger and more natural in zone coverage than in man coverage, according to scouting reports and film analysis from his 2025 season at Texas Tech (where his overall PFF coverage grade was a nation-leading 92.7 among FBS linebackers).<grok:render card_id="7adce3" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation"><argument name="citation_id">24</argument></grok:render><grok:render card_id="b40ff6" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation"><argument name="citation_id">21</argument></grok:render>

PFF does not publicly break out separate man vs. zone grades or exact snap percentages (those details are premium/paywalled on his player page), but the broader scouting consensus is clear and consistent across multiple draft analysts.

### Zone Coverage
He excels here due to elite instincts, processing, and playmaking.

  • He gets good depth in his drops, stays calm while reading route combinations, plants and drives effectively on spots, and keeps plays in front of him.
  • His former quarterback background shows up in pre-snap reads, quarterback anticipation, and undercutting throwing windows—leading to four interceptions (tops among FBS linebackers) plus career totals of 12 pass breakups and strong ball production.
  • He IDs screens at a high level and limits yards after catch on underneath throws.
  • Texas Tech's defense was zone-heavy (multiple reports describe it as primarily zone or "zone heavy scheme"), which played to his strengths and contributed to the high overall PFF coverage mark.<grok:render card_id="c5e754" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation"><argument name="citation_id">52</argument></grok:render><grok:render card_id="88355e" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation"><argument name="citation_id">46</argument></grok:render>

Most scouts grade this as an A-level or top-tier trait for an off-ball linebacker. One outlier report (Bleacher Report, Dec. 2025) noted occasional lapses in eye discipline where he "covers grass" or leaves threats open, plus subpar speed limiting him in deeper Tampa-2 zones—but this is the minority view.<grok:render card_id="0400f5" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation"><argument name="citation_id">49</argument></grok:render>

### Man Coverage
This is a clear relative weakness and more scheme-dependent.

  • He has above-average speed to handle some work against running backs in the flat or on vertical routes (he showed well in one-on-one RB drills at the Senior Bowl).
  • However, he struggles with twitchier athletes, athletic tight ends, or receivers—due to stiff hips/movement skills, limited length, and less fluidity when mirroring or redirecting.
  • Film-based grades often list it as C+ (with notes that he saw fewer high-quality man reps), and targeted receivers caught over 80% of passes his direction in 2025 (with some "coverage busts" noted, partly tied to scheme asking him to handle vertical responsibility).<grok:render card_id="8bae10" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation"><argument name="citation_id">50</argument></grok:render><grok:render card_id="4cf0c1" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation"><argument name="citation_id">46</argument></grok:render>

Scouts explicitly say he is not the profile you'd want matching receivers or TEs in man; he's better suited for zone or only RB coverage in man-heavy schemes.

### Bottom Line for NFL Projection
His coverage success (and 381 coverage snaps with elite production) was driven by zone playmaking and instincts rather than pure man-matching ability. He projects best in zone-heavy or hybrid defenses (e.g., 4-3 schemes that drop him underneath or behind a strong front, like the 49ers or Texans styles). In man-heavy systems, he'd likely be limited to specific matchups or nickel packages against backs.<grok:render card_id="846167" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation"><argument name="citation_id">50</argument></grok:render>

This aligns with his combine/showing and why he's viewed as a high-floor, scheme-specific starter (often projected Day 2) rather than a universal three-down coverage linebacker. No NFL tape exists yet, but college film and metrics paint a clear picture: zone-dominant, man-limited.

Dueling Groks!
 
Oh my god, it's like when people would post two different scouting reports that contradict each other. Now we are letting Grok find those reports and regurgitate it.
 
boozeman said:
Jacob Rodriguez is significantly stronger and more natural in zone coverage than in man coverage, according to scouting reports and film analysis from his 2025 season at Texas Tech (where his overall PFF coverage grade was a nation-leading 92.7 among FBS linebackers).<grok:render card_id="7adce3" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation"><argument name="citation_id">24</argument></grok:render><grok:render card_id="b40ff6" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation"><argument name="citation_id">21</argument></grok:render>

PFF does not publicly break out separate man vs. zone grades or exact snap percentages (those details are premium/paywalled on his player page), but the broader scouting consensus is clear and consistent across multiple draft analysts.

### Zone Coverage
He excels here due to elite instincts, processing, and playmaking.

  • He gets good depth in his drops, stays calm while reading route combinations, plants and drives effectively on spots, and keeps plays in front of him.
  • His former quarterback background shows up in pre-snap reads, quarterback anticipation, and undercutting throwing windows—leading to four interceptions (tops among FBS linebackers) plus career totals of 12 pass breakups and strong ball production.
  • He IDs screens at a high level and limits yards after catch on underneath throws.
  • Texas Tech's defense was zone-heavy (multiple reports describe it as primarily zone or "zone heavy scheme"), which played to his strengths and contributed to the high overall PFF coverage mark.<grok:render card_id="c5e754" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation"><argument name="citation_id">52</argument></grok:render><grok:render card_id="88355e" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation"><argument name="citation_id">46</argument></grok:render>

Most scouts grade this as an A-level or top-tier trait for an off-ball linebacker. One outlier report (Bleacher Report, Dec. 2025) noted occasional lapses in eye discipline where he "covers grass" or leaves threats open, plus subpar speed limiting him in deeper Tampa-2 zones—but this is the minority view.<grok:render card_id="0400f5" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation"><argument name="citation_id">49</argument></grok:render>

### Man Coverage
This is a clear relative weakness and more scheme-dependent.

  • He has above-average speed to handle some work against running backs in the flat or on vertical routes (he showed well in one-on-one RB drills at the Senior Bowl).
  • However, he struggles with twitchier athletes, athletic tight ends, or receivers—due to stiff hips/movement skills, limited length, and less fluidity when mirroring or redirecting.
  • Film-based grades often list it as C+ (with notes that he saw fewer high-quality man reps), and targeted receivers caught over 80% of passes his direction in 2025 (with some "coverage busts" noted, partly tied to scheme asking him to handle vertical responsibility).<grok:render card_id="8bae10" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation"><argument name="citation_id">50</argument></grok:render><grok:render card_id="4cf0c1" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation"><argument name="citation_id">46</argument></grok:render>

Scouts explicitly say he is not the profile you'd want matching receivers or TEs in man; he's better suited for zone or only RB coverage in man-heavy schemes.

### Bottom Line for NFL Projection
His coverage success (and 381 coverage snaps with elite production) was driven by zone playmaking and instincts rather than pure man-matching ability. He projects best in zone-heavy or hybrid defenses (e.g., 4-3 schemes that drop him underneath or behind a strong front, like the 49ers or Texans styles). In man-heavy systems, he'd likely be limited to specific matchups or nickel packages against backs.<grok:render card_id="846167" card_type="citation_card" type="render_inline_citation"><argument name="citation_id">50</argument></grok:render>

This aligns with his combine/showing and why he's viewed as a high-floor, scheme-specific starter (often projected Day 2) rather than a universal three-down coverage linebacker. No NFL tape exists yet, but college film and metrics paint a clear picture: zone-dominant, man-limited.

Dueling Groks!
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None of that says what you said. You said he is rough in coverage which is silly. He isn't even "rough" in man coverage. He is just better in zone. He is great in man. It just so happens he is elite in zone.
 
Cotton said:
None of that says what you said. You said he is rough in coverage which is silly. He isn't even "rough" in man coverage. He is just better in zone. He is great in man. It just so happens he is elite in zone.
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Read my follow up posts after that Grok boi.
 
@Cowboysrock55 I went back and watched Auburn/Georgia and if anything they were trying to keep Faulk fresh for 3rd down by resting him on earlier downs. That's why I only half listen to these chuckelfucks like Broaddus, they barely know what they're looking at these days regardless of the fact that he was a shitty scout 50 fucking years ago until Parcells got rid of him.

Faulk was really impressive that game too and outplayed Freeling (a dark horse top 10 pick supposedly) pretty good.
 
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