The Next Will Gholston? Bucs Add SMU’s Elijah Roberts.
April 26th, 2025
Bucs fifth-round pick DL Elijah Roberts.
The Bucs have kept their word. They are loading up on edge rushers in Day 3 of the draft.
And here Joe thought Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht found “comfort” in his depth at edge rusher.
But a team cannot have enough edge rushers. And perhaps Elijah Roberts of SMU, is a late bloomer, but he did have 15.5 sacks in the past two years for the Mustangs.
A native of Miami, the 6-4, 285 beast ran a 4.78 40-yard dash. His first two years at Miami, Roberts basically had no production (just a half-sack).
Perhaps he aged well or perhaps he found a better fit at SMU, Roberts blew up in Dallas. Roberts, who can play both defensive line and edge, led college football in pressures the past two seasons (131 pressures total in 2023 and 2024).
So maybe with some decent coaching, perhaps Roberts can turn pressures into sacks? This guy sounds like he’s a replacement for Will Gholston.
The best of Elijah Roberts from 2024 🔥 pic.twitter.com/snpm46PY87
— SMU Football (@SMUFB) April 23, 2025
April 26th, 2025 at 3:06 pm
Miami, SMU… great pick… guys also a beast
April 26th, 2025 at 3:07 pm
My understanding is Elijah Roberts was lost under the depth chart in his first two years and did not play much. He blossomed the last 2 seasons and lead the nation with 131 QB pressures.
April 26th, 2025 at 3:07 pm
Yep, this guy will backup Logan Hall as that 3rd d-lineman in the 3/4 defense…
Bet you they can also slide him inside as well to backup Kancey if needed….
I like this pick!!
April 26th, 2025 at 3:09 pm
If a 5th round pick can become a starter like Zion M, then your GM has hit a home run. If the 5th rounder makes the team and becomes a solid depth piece which can contribute in a rotation, well, that may not be a home run but I will take it as a Buc fan. As one of the Joe’s has been saying: you cannot have enough/too many edge rushers.
April 26th, 2025 at 3:10 pm
Decent coaching would help the whole defense. It’s been glaringly absent.
April 26th, 2025 at 3:10 pm
Sounds right. Didn’t Miami have some dudes on the d-line back then?
April 26th, 2025 at 3:11 pm
The defense should be majorly improved after these picks
April 26th, 2025 at 3:12 pm
He’ll be a dt
April 26th, 2025 at 3:13 pm
Sounds to me he will be used more on the inside then the edge. But maybe both.
April 26th, 2025 at 3:13 pm
Trust me, we hit a homerun with this one for a 5th. Man Im so happy he lasted till us. He’s not just edge, he also plays DT.
Welcome aboard Elijah! I was pushing for you.
April 26th, 2025 at 3:15 pm
He was good enough to make the Canes team… and did great on a pretty damn good SMU team.
April 26th, 2025 at 3:15 pm
I know he’s generically listed at edge, but like you Joe, I think he profiles as a DE. I was thinking more in the mold of Logan Hall, as he’s not as tall but also is on the lighter end and will need to bulk up and is very much a project player.
I’m not a huge fan of taking guys like this at this point in the draft since they so rarely work out, but you need to fill out the roster and maybe they hit a home-run in the 7th and pickup a speedy ILB who makes the team.
April 26th, 2025 at 3:17 pm
So much for Watts and Ramirez
April 26th, 2025 at 3:18 pm
The Bucs finally get a player 1988 likes the world is right.
April 26th, 2025 at 3:19 pm
No Gholston. A little more like Logan Hall. Maybe an edge/DE tweeter. Like the pick more than Walker. He’s two years younger.
April 26th, 2025 at 3:21 pm
Woodman, you’re evidently a giant dumbass……
I’ve liked pretty much all of the players drafted…
Not sure where your brain came up with me not liking players??
April 26th, 2025 at 3:22 pm
What I like is we haven’t reached for any picks…all picks have been well within their draft rankings.
April 26th, 2025 at 3:26 pm
I think you made it clear you did not like first 2 dumbass!
April 26th, 2025 at 3:29 pm
Woodman has done nothing but complain since the draft has started.
April 26th, 2025 at 3:33 pm
Tampabaybucfan – I don’t know, Licht has a pretty good track record on reaches. For example, the biggest reach of all his drafts was Cappa, who he took in the 3rd and if he was listed at all on draft charts he had a 7th / UDFA. That worked out well.
April 26th, 2025 at 3:35 pm
Woodman, obviously you’re stalking my comments DUMBASS but bro I’m simply not interested, I’m sorry 🤷🏻‍♂️..:
I didn’t like Licht’s CHOICE of the 1st round pic because we need defense more than another WR. I like Ebuka as a player though…..
Never said crap about not liking the 2nd round pic?? I like Morrison…He’s a stud if he stays healthy….
Time to move on now and go criticize someone else..
April 26th, 2025 at 3:38 pm
#99, evidently so….Woodman got a stick up his butt for some reason….Or else he got a poster of Licht on his wall and worships his every pic and doesn’t think anyone should disagree…
April 26th, 2025 at 3:42 pm
Sounds like they got a versatility guy that may become a starter but it definitely solid rotational guy that you can use inside and outside I like this pic
April 26th, 2025 at 3:51 pm
He has the power like Gholston, he really jars lineman backwards with his hands but he seems much faster. His acceleration isn’t off the charts but once he gets going he can move. I could really see him doing well on those twist stunts Bowles likes to run. Our pass rush improved tremendously with these past 2 picks along with the Reddick signing. 2 new talented pieces added to the secondary also I think Bowles gets this defense back to a top 10 unit!
April 26th, 2025 at 3:53 pm
Now we’re talking business! This is gonna be one good defensive class for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Only pick of 5 I’m worried about is our new cornerback with all the injuries. I’ll call him Benjamin and I think his last name is Morrison. The other cornerback is maybe more a slot corner but I just listened to an interview with him and he prided himself on his physicality. Name is Parrish. Said he loved man to man and wrestled in high school. Can’t wait to compete against Morrison for playing time. Competition is lovely and he also said he can’t wait to cover Evans. Hehehe. I love these DBs. Anyway, these 2 edges can rush from anywhere on the field and look to be excellent pieces. Saw Egbuca speak and he said the exact thing that Parrish said in his interview. “ I’m ready to get to work!” And those two didn’t waste words. They meant it! Let’s keep our fingers crossed that Ben Morrison heals up properly, because he’s a rare talent. I believe we’ve improved our defense dramatically. Okay Guys, Let’s get to work!!
April 26th, 2025 at 3:56 pm
Kenton, I’m more worried about 3rd rounder, Parrish, than I am on Morrison…..
This is really all about staying healthy….
Morrison is a STUD if his health works out.
He’s got great fluidity and he’s a ball-hawk…
Practicing against our receivers is going to do nothing but help him.
April 26th, 2025 at 4:36 pm
Mostly agree with you Bucsfan1988 but no worries about Parrish. Bowles played safety with the Redskins back in the 80s with a guy shorter than Parrish. Name of Darryl Green. Fast as lightning. Hall of Famer. Bowles says he wants tall DBs but he knows there are exceptions. And we got one!
April 26th, 2025 at 4:43 pm
I’m not familiar with anybody we picked, but it does make me feel better as I read the comments. I really wish we had picked a linebacker. Maybe we still can.
April 26th, 2025 at 5:03 pm
Fred McNeil, I can’t believe we haven’t gotten a middle linebacker or a Beastly DT. But somehow I feel like we are going to be a changed defense this year. We’ll have to see if that’s so.
April 26th, 2025 at 9:57 pm
He’s a DE/DT.
He will push Hall and rotate with Kancey
April 27th, 2025 at 9:32 am
Gholston’s “production” was not what I would use as a measurement for success.
Be better than Gholston!
April 27th, 2025 at 10:29 am
Roberts will sub for Hall on passing downs as a 3 tech, not edge.