Levi Drake Rodriguez

Career StatsB-

Year	Team	GP	Sacks	Tkl	TFL
Career		18	2.0	44	11
2025		16	2.0	43	10
2024		2	0.0	1	1

Updated Jun 6, 2026

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Among DT contracts at this AAV tier, Levi Drake Rodriguez's grades a B Contract Value Index. The four-year, $1.03M AAV deal reflects fair value for a 25-year-old second-year depth interior lineman whose 2025 production—43 tackles and 2 sacks over 16 games—tracks as solid rotational output without cornerstone impact. At the low end of the positional market, this contract structure carries minimal cap burden and zero Dead Money risk, giving the Vikings complete roster flexibility to evaluate Rodriguez on merit during training camp rather than financial obligation. His careerStage and current performance grade (B-) align cleanly with his on-field role: a depth contributor with special teams value (evidenced by his NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honor for a critical field goal block) rather than a defensive line anchor. The CVI score reflects the alignment between cost and production—the Vikings have structured this deal to allow Rodriguez to prove himself without significant financial commitment, which is exactly the right calculus for a prospect operating on the roster bubble. Recent team activity, including the acquisition of defensive line depth, underscores that Rodriguez's path forward hinges on preseason performance and special teams reliability, not guaranteed defensive snaps, making this low-cost, multi-year arrangement the smart hedge for a young player with goodwill in the building but unresolved positional standing.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the B band — a quick read on where Levi's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Levi Drake Rodriguez's tape and counting stats together earn a B- performance grade. The second-year defensive tackle logged a full 16-game slate in 2025, accumulating 43 tackles and 2 sacks — a workmanlike production profile that reflects his role as a rotational interior lineman rather than a disruptive pass-rush threat. His best asset is durability; the fact that he stayed healthy enough to play all 16 games demonstrates reliability in a physical position where depth pieces often cycle through the injury list. However, the sack total and overall tackle count suggest he's operating as a run-defender and snap-eater rather than someone generating consistent pressure up front, a clear ceiling limitation at the position. What elevates his standing within the organization isn't his baseline defensive statistics but rather his special teams impact — the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week recognition for a field goal block reveals that Rodriguez has carved out genuine value in complementary roles, a trait that matters heavily for fringe roster players fighting for spots. Heading into 2026, his path to the 53-man roster hinges on whether the Vikings' defensive line depth requires his services and whether he can replicate or expand his special teams contributions, making preseason evaluation critical for a player currently on the organizational bubble.

How Levi Compares at the Position

Levi Drake Rodriguez ranks 66th of 216 graded defensive tackles by performance. That slots Levi between Moro Ojomo (B-) just ahead and Bubba Thomas (B-) just behind.

Current Sentiment

Recent headlines push Levi Drake Rodriguez's sentiment grade to a B-, with Minnesota's broader season shaping the read. The narrative around the 25-year-old second-year defensive tackle has benefited enormously from a concrete, award-backed moment—his NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honor for a critical field goal block—which elevated him from anonymous depth piece to legitimate storyline in ways that pure rotational tape rarely achieves. A human-interest feature centered on his genuine gratitude about living his NFL dream has resonated with Vikings fans and broader football audiences, creating emotional investment that transcends his developmental production profile. However, that positive momentum is tempered by roster bubble concerns; his simultaneous appearance on a "thin ice" post-draft roster assessment introduces legitimate uncertainty about his 53-man stability heading into training camp, a counternarrative that prevents the sentiment from climbing higher despite the goodwill. His on-field performance—recording 43 tackles and 2 sacks over 16 games in 2025—tracks as solid depth-level output, which aligns with the media's framing of him as a rotational contributor rather than a breakthrough starter. The Vikings' recent defensive line acquisitions, notably the signing of DL Isaiahh Loudermilk, underscore the competitive environment Rodriguez faces for snaps and roster real estate, further anchoring the narrative as "player to watch in preseason" rather than "emerging impact threat." Where Rodriguez stands now is genuinely favorable for someone at his career stage—award recognition, fan affection, and a feel-good story—but the roster reality keeps expectations grounded in special teams value and depth insurance rather than defensive playmaking prominence.