Bucs Bolster Linebacker Depth With Rozeboom, But Don't Expect Miracles

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers dipped into the free agency pool this week, snagging linebacker Christian Rozeboom from the Carolina Panthers. Agents Chris Gittings and Jeremiah Sirles confirmed the move to NFL Network on Monday, signaling a depth addition for a Bucs team that's seen some shuffling in its defensive corps. Rozeboom, a former undrafted free agent out of Iowa State, spent last season in Carolina, primarily contributing on special teams. He logged 23 total tackles for the Panthers in 2023, appearing in all 17 games.

Here's the thing: while any new blood can spark a little hope, Rozeboom isn't walking into Tampa Bay to replace Lavonte David. David, who signed a one-year, $9 million deal to return for his 13th season, remains the unquestioned leader of that linebacker group. Rozeboom's role will likely mirror his time in Charlotte: a core special teams player who can fill in on defense if injuries hit. In 2022 with the Rams, he actually started four games, notching 56 tackles and a sack, so he's got some experience. But that was a different defense, a different scheme.

**Bucs' Linebacker Puzzle Pieces**

Tampa Bay’s linebacker situation has been a bit of a moving target this offseason. Devin White, a former No. 5 overall pick and a Pro Bowler in 2020, signed a one-year, $7.5 million deal with the Eagles in March after a somewhat tumultuous final season with the Bucs. White’s production dipped in 2023, recording 83 tackles, two sacks, and two forced fumbles, a noticeable drop from his 2021 numbers of 128 tackles and 3.5 sacks. Losing him creates an opening, but it’s not one Rozeboom is expected to fill as a starter.

K.J. Britt, a 2021 fifth-round pick, is still there, and he's primarily been a special teams ace himself, though he did step into a bigger defensive role at times last year. SirVocea Dennis, a 2023 fifth-rounder, is another young guy the coaching staff is high on, and he'll be pushing for more snaps in his second season. The Bucs also brought back Cam Gill, another special teams presence who's been with the team since 2020. So Rozeboom is joining a crowded room, especially when you consider David and the recently signed Jordan Hicks, who inked a two-year, $8 million deal in March after a strong season in Minnesota where he had 106 tackles and an interception.

My take? This move is purely about special teams and emergency depth. Rozeboom brings a known quantity to a phase of the game that often gets overlooked but is crucial for field position. His 23 tackles last year included a good chunk on kick and punt coverage. But if you’re expecting him to be a major factor in Todd Bowles’ defensive scheme, you’re going to be disappointed. He’s a solid, reliable guy, but he’s not a game-wrecker.

Look, every team needs players who can handle the grunt work, the unglamorous but necessary jobs. Rozeboom fits that bill perfectly. He’s tough, he’s durable, and he knows the NFC South. He’ll make tackles on special teams, maybe even block a punt or two. But the idea that he’s filling some massive void in the middle of that Bucs defense is a stretch. The big questions for the Bucs' defense still revolve around the development of their young defensive backs and whether the pass rush can consistently get home.

Bold prediction: Rozeboom will record more special teams tackles than defensive tackles in 2024.