Locked On Cowboys: Drafting Dallas’ Linebacker of the Future – Allen vs. Rodriguez vs. Hill

Podcast: Locked On Cowboys – Daily Podcast On The Dallas Cowboys
Hosts: Marcus Mosher & Landon McCool
Episode Date: March 6, 2026
Main Theme:
An in-depth breakdown of the best linebacker options for the Dallas Cowboys at pick No. 20 in the 2026 NFL Draft, focusing on C.J. Allen (Georgia), Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech), and Anthony Hill (Texas). The hosts analyze each player's strengths, weaknesses, scheme fit, and draft value, debating who best matches the Cowboys’ needs under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker.

Episode Overview

The Cowboys desperately need linebacker help, with the draft providing multiple options outside of consensus top prospect Sunny Styles. Marcus and Landon dissect the three most likely targets at pick 20, offering film insights, player comparisons, and draft value debate. The conversation is rich with scouting detail as the hosts weigh linebacker archetypes versus scheme needs and consider recent NFL trends.

Segment 1: CJ Allen – Old School Mike in a New School Body

Timestamps: 00:00–09:49

Key Points

• Profile: CJ Allen, Georgia. Mocked to Dallas at 20th overall. Noted as a “brain of a Georgia defense.” (00:59)
• Physical Traits: Undersized for a traditional Mike (6’1”-6’2”, 230 lbs, 31.5” arms) but well-proportioned and powerful.
• On Tape:
  • Instinctive, takes charge of the defense.
  • Not a sideline-to-sideline freak; more downhill and physical, thriving between the C gaps.
  • “He’s immediately ready to mix it up with interior offensive linemen and he will jolt them with the strike.” – Landon (02:41)
  • Consistent tackler, rarely takes false steps. Excels at diagnosing run fits and sorting through blocks.
• Coverage Concerns:
  • “There is some legitimate bad coverage reps from him on tape and it’s only going to get worse in the NFL.” – Marcus (05:24)
  • Better suited to zone coverage; could be a liability in more advanced coverage assignments, especially against athletic backs in man.

Notable Quotes

• On Allen’s Value:
  • “The power in his hands and arms is specifically why I think he’s a first round pick. These guys are a little bit rare nowadays. Everybody’s a run and hit LB, but he’s a true Mike in a Will’s body.” – Landon (04:30)
  • “You find these type of linebackers in free agency every year that cost you like $6 or $7 million… the skill set does feel replaceable.” – Marcus (05:24)

Scheme Fit & Draft Value

• Allen thrives in schemes like Dallas’—which features gap-and-a-half principles—because his anticipation and “slow play” style naturally fits. (07:43–08:50)
• Allen as a pick at 20? Both hosts see it as a solid, if unspectacular choice, comparable to drafting Nick Bolton in today’s NFL.
  • “If that’s the pick at 20, I feel solid about it. I think he’s worthy of being a first round pick…” – Landon (08:58)

Segment 2: Jacob Rodriguez – Statistical Monster, Ascending Star

Timestamps: 09:49–19:33

Key Points

• Profile: Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech. Finished fifth in Heisman voting, highly productive.
• Physical/Testing Numbers:
  • Similar size to Allen, slightly taller, shorter arms (approximately 6’2”, 30⅞” arms), tested excellent at the combine (6.93 three-cone). (12:16)
• On Tape:
  • Production: 7 forced fumbles, 4 interceptions, 11 TFLs, 2 defensive TDs, 70 “stops” (a high-end PFF stat). More stops in 2025 than Allen + Hill combined. (13:12–13:50)
  • “He’s an easy mover, comfortable in space… bouncy, bursty energy. The explosiveness he had early in the season was really, really kind of surprising.” – Landon (14:03)
  • Instinctual and versatile: Former college QB, new-ish to linebacker.
  • Football IQ off the charts: “He’s just a football player. He’s around the football at all times, that’s the highest compliment I can give.” – Marcus (15:04)
• Developmental Concerns:
  • Sometimes takes missteps, coverage busts, misses tackles—typical rawness of a newer LB.
  • Injury or “something nagging” may have affected his late-season tape. (16:18)

Notable Quotes

• On Rodriguez’s Potential:
  • “He doesn’t have a defined weakness. He can blitz, he can cover, he can play the run… he’s above average in almost every area.” – Landon (16:53)
• Why is he undervalued?:
  • “He was in the 90s or 100s in mock simulations so people thought of him as a Day 3 pick, but now he’s rising up to late first, early second.”
  • “You and I spent 15–20 minutes on a phone call… I cannot get over that this guy isn’t more highly ranked.” – Landon (18:41)
• Player comp:
  • Carson Schlesinger—undersized, instinctive, also a late riser, ended up DROY for Cleveland.
  • “I will not be shocked if we see something similar with Rodriguez because he’s just a baller.” – Marcus (19:04)

Draft Stock & Process

• Senior Bowl and Combine were home runs—proved out any questions about athleticism or coverage (17:32–18:41).
• Age is a slight concern (turns 24 as a rookie), and he’s not long or particularly huge.
• May be one of the safest, highest upside linebackers in the class—hosts are strongly in favor.

Segment 3: Anthony Hill – Tools, But Unpolished

Timestamps: 19:33–26:34

Key Points

• Profile: Anthony Hill, Texas. Five-star, 17th prospect in 2023. Prototypical “tools” linebacker (6’2”, 240 lbs, ~32.5” arms).
• On Tape:
  • Best work is straight-line: “He’s a freight train coming downhill, especially as a blitzer.” – Landon (21:20)
  • Assignment-sound when asked to be assertive on specific tasks (blitzing).
  • Has clear athleticism and is a solid tackler, but has issues with:
    • Eye discipline and key reading.
    • Reacting quickly vs. the run.
    • Lateral/sideline-to-sideline fluidity.
• Scheme Fit:
  • Hosts see Hill as a reasonable fit for Dallas’ new defense (scheme values downhill play, frequent blitzing, less reliance on LBs making difficult coverage drops).
  • “I think he’s a good fit for this scheme… but if the Cowboys were to trade back and get him in Round 2, I wouldn’t be opposed.” – Landon (22:27)

Draft Value/Projection

• Wide variation among evaluators: some see Round 1, others late Day 2 or 3.
• Not a fit for every scheme; needs to be put in a system that can focus his skillset.
• Ceiling depends on whether he can develop better instincts and “see ball, get ball” skills.
• Player comp: Kenneth Murray (OKLA, Chargers) – “high cut” LB who needs a downhill pathway and might be limited in coverage.

Notable Debate

• Marcus: “I just don’t think he’s got [sideline-to-sideline] to his game…it limits you in coverage.” (24:08)
• Landon counters: “We might need to adjust as a fanbase…Dallas’ current scheme needs blitzers and gap shooters, not necessarily sideline chasers.” (24:30)

Segment 4: Ranking the Three (Draft Board)

Timestamps: 26:04–26:34

• Landon:
  1. Jacob Rodriguez
  2. C.J. Allen (close behind Rodriguez)
  3. [gap]
  4. Anthony Hill – “Hill is a tier or two down… a mid-to-late second, maybe third round type. Starting-caliber, but not expecting a future Pro Bowler.”

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On underappreciated skillsets:
  • “These ‘true Mike’ types are almost hunted to extinction… Allen’s physicality is rare nowadays.” – Landon (06:45)
• On undervalued prospects rising:
  • “Rodriguez nails every part of the pre-draft process, blows away doubts—now he’s in the mix as a late first [rounder].” – Marcus (18:41)
• On where the game is heading:
  • “As the game starts to turn back toward the running game a little, Allen’s old school skills get even more valuable.” – Landon (09:10)

Final Thoughts and Recap

• Which LB at 20?
  • Rodriguez is the hosts’ favorite – scheme versatile, playmaking, ascending.
  • Allen is a close second—an old-school Mike with rare power, fits what Dallas wants to do, but with some cover limitations.
  • Hill is more of a Round 2 project with upside—but not an ideal target at 20.

Dallas’ draft board at LB reflects the broader changes in defensive scheme and personnel value. The episode asserts that being “just a football player” (Rodriguez) may be more valuable than testing numbers or pure measurables, especially given the way Dallas projects to play under Christian Parker.

For the full player breakdowns and nuanced debate about scheme fit and linebacker valuation, listen to the episode around:

• C.J. Allen: 00:59–09:49
• Jacob Rodriguez: 12:01–19:33
• Anthony Hill: 21:10–26:34

For rapid-fire rankings: 26:04–26:34

Follow Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) and Landon McCool (@McCoolBCB) on Twitter for more draft and Cowboys analysis. Listen to Locked On Cowboys for daily updates and in-depth coverage!