Did Jason Licht Find The Next Za’Darius Smith?
April 29th, 2025
Bucs rookie fifth-round pick, DL Elijah Roberts.
Did Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht just find a future Pro Bowl defender in the fifth round? That’s what one of the most plugged-in college football writers seems to think.
Bruce Feldman of The Athletic monitors the NFL draft and he cherry-picked a few teams whose draft attack he really liked.
The Bucs were one of those teams. because they targeted productive guys that were also value picks.
I liked what the Buccaneers did more and more
This team just loaded up on a bunch of really productive high-level college players from top to bottom. First-rounder Emeka Egbuka is as close to a “can’t miss” as you’ll get in a draft pick late in the first round. I think he’s a slightly bigger, slightly faster version of Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who already has proven terrific in Seattle.
Getting Notre Dame corner Benjamin Morrison late in the second is great value. He probably did as good a job as anyone in college matching up against Marvin Harrison Jr. two years ago. He’s a really bright, technically sound corner.
Here is the fun part: Feldman liked how Licht nailed the back end of the draft. And in particular, Feldman was told by an NFL coach the Bucs may have plucked a future Pro Bowl player in Elijah Roberts, out of SMU in the fifth round.
The cornerback they got in the third round, Kansas State’s Jacob Parrish, probably could’ve gone a round earlier. He’s faster than Morrison and a playmaker. In David Walker from Central Arkansas, a two-time Freaks List guy, they got a short, explosive, pain-in-the-butt-to-block edge.
Late fifth-rounder DE Elijah Roberts from SMU feels like a steal at that spot. He’s big, fast and versatile. One NFL coach told me he sees a lot of three-time former Pro Bowler Za’Darius Smith in Roberts.
And of course, Feldman raved about taking a flier on receiver/return man Tez Johnson.
Tiny Oregon slot Tez Johnson is ridiculously quick and productive; you wonder about his durability, but in the seventh round, he’s worth that price.
Exactly.
A guy that produces that much was still on the board in the seventh round? Why not roll the dice? Especially when you have inside intel on him from Bucky Irving.
Za’Darius Smith, drafted in 2015 by the Crows out in the fourth round, really didn’t bloom until his fourth season when he had 8.5 sacks. In three of the next four seasons, Smith had double-digit sacks and made three Pro Bowls.
Joe sure hopes Roberts can blow up a little quicker with the Bucs.
April 29th, 2025 at 7:09 am
Well one positive in this article is finding out that Smith didn’t bloom til his 4th year. This is the most hope I’ve had for Braswell yet.
April 29th, 2025 at 7:37 am
Anything that helps our Putrid Pass Defense is welcomed. Go Bucs!!
April 29th, 2025 at 7:50 am
alove the EJ Roberts pick from SMU. He initially went to Miami.
Its like a Miami football player who became a starter, just with a new team, that oh btw, went to the NCAA Playoffs OVER Miami this season).
Joe THAT is a great interview question… “So how did you react when SMU essentially knocked out UM in the ACC to reach the NCAA Playoffs last season? I bet as a transfer from that school, and leading your team to knock them out of the playoffs was an awarding personal moment for you EJ.”
April 29th, 2025 at 8:23 am
We’ve all heard Joe and the Sage talk about how it usually takes edge rushers a season before they become great/dominant (trying to justify why we should draft an edge guy in the 1st round even though he’d be a backup this year).
But that same logic applies to Braswell. And he could end up being a stud this year and beyond.
For the record, I’m sooooo glad we didn’t draft an EDGE in Round 1 like Joe wanted.
I ansolutely love our draft, top-to-bottom.
A+.
April 29th, 2025 at 8:25 am
*absolutely
Side note, I guarantee Tez Johnson makes the team.
He’s got too much juice to not have a spot on the 53.
April 29th, 2025 at 8:44 am
“Za’Darius Smith, drafted in 2015 by the Baltimore Crows out in the fourth round, really didn’t bloom until his fourth season when he had 8.5 sacks. In three of the next four seasons, Smith had double-digit sacks and made three Pro Bowls.”
Tampa fans would have run him out of town before then.
Ironic, considering how long it took Ronde Barber to develop into the best CB in Bucs history.
April 29th, 2025 at 8:52 am
The encouraging thing is… these analysts keep praising our picks…..and they are different players.
So…did we get a steal in every round?
April 29th, 2025 at 9:04 am
Ok now back to NFL free agency ,,,, please sign Kyzir White and or look to pluck a super solid Vet safety ( not sold on Winfield)( ( great guy , terrible terrible production last year and he can’t cover tight ends ) , LB and possibly a Def end via late round pick . There will be teams that are in love with their draft picks, and may want to chop a big salary In the middle of their contract that the Bucs can easily afford…….. That goes for tight end also
Sign Simmons and let the best man win between both T Smith , Simmons and Winfield and then T Smith really can be a force when and where ever you need him. You want the Safety room to get better sign Simmons …….. Lichts team is spot on with the college production and the character, but Licht definitely doesn’t create enough competition at some positions , almost protecting his own players too much………..Go Bucs !!
April 29th, 2025 at 9:07 am
Every year it seems that there are on average 2-3 rookies who get to play a whole bunch of snaps (say over 500) while Todd Bowles has been here. Often it because of overwhelming talent (like Tristan Wirfs), sometimes because of injuries to others. For instance …
o 2019: Devin White, Dean, SMB, Edwards
o 2020: Wirfs & Winfield
o 2021: JTS
o 2022: Rachaad White, Otton, Goedeke
o 2023: Kancey, Diaby, Mauch
o 2024: Barton, Irving, McMillan, Tykee Smith
Can’t help but wonder how many other NFL teams have produced that many rookie starters during the past 6 years. And that doesn’t count many others who blossomed during their rookie year as key rotational players; guys like Christian Izien. We’ve been blessed.
Looking at this year’s crop of rookies, I wonder which ones will rise up & start this year. We’ve got some fairly solid veterans at just about all positions, but ANY rookie who absolutely shines can win a starting spot. And especially if & when injuries happen early in the season (like last year).
April 29th, 2025 at 9:10 am
Eckwood … ‘not sold on Winfield’.
You might not be, but the Bucs are. That’s why they made him the highest paid Safety in the NFL. No one else is trading for that salary. He’s ours. And he was injured most of last year. He’ll bounce back.
April 29th, 2025 at 9:18 am
Can’t wait to see all 6 of these draft picks in action. I like every one of them.
Team wide I’m just silently praying that our injuries will be few and far between OTA’s thru training camp. We absolutely need a healthy AW3 and Sir Dennis coming into camp. Hopefully Godwin is coming along in his rehab.
All hands needed on deck for a SB run this year.
April 29th, 2025 at 9:23 am
Not worried about Winfield at all.
He is a Pro and wants to win.
As far as who I see starting this year at some point.
Egbuka – Injury to Mike or Chris
Morrison – He is better than Dean now.
Parrish – I believe he will start at Nickel
Walker – Probably not all year hopefully unless he is unstoppable.
Roberts – Might start a few games if Hall is injured or he is just better.
Johnson – Could win the punt return job.
The first three are safe, unless miraculously ME13 and CG14 play every game and McMillan beats out Emeka all year.
Last 3 would be a bonus this year. Next year is a different story.
April 29th, 2025 at 10:02 am
If this group of players help us to get to the Super Bowl, teams may need to start emulating Licht’s formula for creating a championship caliber team.
In Licht We Trust!!!
LFG!!!!
April 29th, 2025 at 10:28 am
Hahaha! I can’t see the name Feldman without remembering Kramer’s opposite on Senfield’s Bizzaro World episode. Gets me every time!
April 29th, 2025 at 11:23 am
I like the draft picks and I like the UDFA players….There will be some vets that will be cut due to what is coming in. Fun year coming up with hopes this defense will play like an NFL defense. Hoping to see our defensive backfield put fear into receivers coming down the middle of the field without a hand being put on them like this last year.
April 29th, 2025 at 12:07 pm
Hall has competition now.
I think Roberts will replace him as our starter.
He’s just a tougher and more dynamic player at DE.
April 29th, 2025 at 12:24 pm
@Kenton
“Well one positive in this article is finding out that Smith didn’t bloom til his 4th year. This is the most hope I’ve had for Braswell yet.”
Yep true dat! Remember Ryan Jensen only started 19 games for the Ravens his first three years before they stopped moving him and left him at Center for the Bucs to harvest.
Joe constantly preaches about not judging draft picks until after 3 years and I agree with him.
You and I are old enough to remember the old “Kung Fu” TV series with David Carradine. I always remember the line of his teacher…”Patience Grasshopper”.
April 29th, 2025 at 12:40 pm
It’s so refreshing not seeing one single Mayfield slam in these comments which were great, btw.