Thoughts On New Bucs Linebacker Christian Rozeboom
March 24th, 2026
New Bucs ILB Christian Rozeboom brings more passion to the LB room.
Two down, one to go.
Joe has typed almost daily since the end of the season that the Bucs need to add no less than three inside linebackers to the roster in the offseason, whether Lavonte David returned or not.
So this month the Bucs signed Alex Anzalone and yesterday Christian Rozeboom, who has a fair amount of starting experience under his belt, including starting 16 games for the NFC South champion Stinking Panthers last year (including Carolina’s playoff loss to Los Angeles).
And Joe suspects the Bucs will draft an inside linebacker next month in the draft.
Why three inside linebackers, even if David may return? The Bucs had to make sure the only way SirVocea Dennis sees the field is either on special teams or if three or four guys ahead of him on the depth chart can’t answer the ball.
It seems this Rozeboom has some fire in him. That is also good. The Bucs’ defense was so soft last year. The Bucs needed more players with fire and brimstone like A’Shawn Robinson and Anzalone. Bad enough the Bucs’ defense was soft last year — and yes, Joe thought many defenders quit on Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
So now, with the addition of Rozeboom, who Joe hopes lowers the boom on opposing players, Joe wonders which inside linebacker the Bucs will draft next month?
March 24th, 2026 at 2:29 am
surprisingly, the LB room might turn out to be one of our stronger positional groups going into 2026…time will tell, but you never know…stranger things have happened
i’m all about taking rodriguez…why not…?
i doubt we move up for styles…
maybe trading down into the early 2nd round to grab him while stacking an extra 2nd or 3rd…
maybe trade back with the number 1st and then have three 2nd rounders to F with…
three 2nd rounders could be nice
March 24th, 2026 at 2:31 am
“thor & boom”
March 24th, 2026 at 2:46 am
He probably covers like Carol Rosenbloom.
March 24th, 2026 at 3:25 am
He’s a good tackler on Special Teams which they obviously need desperately. But not a true starting ilb on a good defense. If you’re counting on guys like him and over 30 cast-offs to dramatically improve this defense you’re going to be disappointed. It’s 2-3 drafts and a new HC away from that.
March 24th, 2026 at 4:38 am
125 tackles last season. Yeah that’s an improvement. Looking more and more like bucs are going after a pass rusher or tight end. How far up the draft would a first and two seconds get you. I still believe you always draft best player available regardless of position. You draft for need and don’t move down the board some you will likely take someone to high. Best player available is the way.
As always Go Bucs!!
March 24th, 2026 at 4:43 am
Adam from ny says
Styles will be a top 3 pick and I would not be surprised if he went before arvell. Styles is being mocked number 2 overall a lot since his workout. He looks like a generational player. It would cost too much to move into the top three picks.
March 24th, 2026 at 4:54 am
The only issue is he is not a very good passing defender from what I read he is great at run defense if the reports are true
March 24th, 2026 at 5:28 am
i was saying no chance at getting styles…
my bad by my confusing post above ^^^
i’m saying trade the #1 for more picks…maybe we wind up with three #2’s to work with…grab rodriguez and another LB…and an edge……or DT maybe…
three #2’s would be a lot to work with…if you think you can get a couple of good ilb’s and an edge guy…
we’ve gotta use the early picks on backers and front line help…
later rounds for other stuff…if licht must grab a guard, maybe he can work his sleeper magic in the 4th on one of his small school wizards…
CB, WR, or RB type picks…rounds 5-7…
skip TE…we should ride with our 4 we are all set with now…unless pulling an egbuka type move in the first round, as a big surprise with TE sadiq…
also if you grab that highly touted sadiq in round one…he is a big receiver replacement type for ME13…so forget drafting a wr unless one falls in your lap in the late rounds – like a tez
March 24th, 2026 at 5:39 am
Anzalone is typically a great pass defender. That will certainly help. Rozeboom not so much so they can probably platoon with Anzalone playing passing downs.
March 24th, 2026 at 6:02 am
Here comes the (Roze)BOOM????
March 24th, 2026 at 6:38 am
Hoping for this kind of FA signing. This gives us some flexibility in the draft. Fifteenth pick no longer needs to be an ILB? Draft at ILB looked slim to me after Styles. Maybe a CB or OLB now? Trading back/up also becomes more of an option. Great move! His numbers last year in 15 starts make him a viable option for us. Particularly if he can improve in coverage just a bit.
Corner who wants to tackle and can cover out there?
Get LVD off the fence please.
Go Bucs!
March 24th, 2026 at 6:39 am
Trading down always sounds good. But when your team is picking in ‘no-man’s land’, around the #13 to #20 pick, the difference in talent between the top 10 picks is, of course, huge. But the difference in talent between ‘no-mans land’ and picking in the 20’s is not so great. So why is a team picking lower than the Bucs going to trade up?
March 24th, 2026 at 7:14 am
everyone getting hyped over this guy, he ranked 74 out of 80 lb’s last season
March 24th, 2026 at 7:25 am
The Fabio Bros…
March 24th, 2026 at 7:27 am
Fabio and Co…
I guess that would make Rozeboom the “Co.”
A Rozeboom by any other name…
March 24th, 2026 at 7:34 am
I remember watching him last year. Gotta be the hair, but I do recall he never appeared “bored” or flommoxicated with ” monotony”.
March 24th, 2026 at 7:35 am
Another mid sogning. Big chamges coming next year.
March 24th, 2026 at 7:44 am
more rotational players so they don’t get bored in Bowel’s “system”
March 24th, 2026 at 7:49 am
Anzalone isnt platooning with anyone. He’s a 3 down LBer. This guy was brought in to provide depth, improve ST and compete with SVD.
They will draft another LBer.
March 24th, 2026 at 8:15 am
These signings admit the team had no fire, was mentally weak and quit. They tried to hide it all season. Then again Coming out Saying your inside linebacker group is the deepest on the roster was just simply insane
March 24th, 2026 at 8:27 am
It does look like the Bucs are trying to get more aggressive on defense with the guys they have signed so far albeit a little old. If the draft goes well & our Rock Star GM doesn’t screw things up we may get Allen from Georgia or maybe trade down & still get a good Ilb front TTU or a good edge guy at 15 .jh If we trade down & get more draft capitol that’s a Win also. Now if they would just recognize that if the Bucs are gonna contend for the SB let’s get a Defensive Cordinator or a Qualified Defensive Mind to call plays & bring the Bucs Defense into this football century . KEEP THE FAITH GO BUCCANEERS!!!!
March 24th, 2026 at 8:37 am
Now the best player available can be signed. And that might well be Ioane if he gets by the Ravens. The OL is one injury away from being like last year.
Plenty of pass rushers and ILBs will be available in the second round. It takes 2-3 years for one to develop. Ioane can start from Day 1, and will be all Pro his first year.
If he is there, just take him. Still Plenty of Free Agents that can be picked up that can patch the Defensive holes.
Rozeboom was a starter with the Panthers. He will start for us.
March 24th, 2026 at 8:46 am
Are there any ILBs in the draft that fit Licht’s scheme of long-haired guys? Does Jacob Rodriguez at TT have long hair? Pick him.
Rozeboom is a smart depth piece at ILB and will be great on special teams, but he’s not a starter.
Speaking of special teams, it’s time for Joe to write, again, about the new coordinator, Danny Smith, and the players Licht has picked up. I see the Bucs special teams coverage and return game being a strength this season.
March 24th, 2026 at 8:54 am
Rozeboom can compete with Dennis for the ILB3
And he’s a good special teams player
But the Bucs should draft their starting ILB
And maybe draft another in round 3 for the future
March 24th, 2026 at 8:59 am
I’m never sold on a guy with more assisted tackles than Solo Tackles
.
Solo tackles are what make you a great tackler
March 24th, 2026 at 9:04 am
Props for the quality Carroll Rosenbloom blast! 🙂
March 24th, 2026 at 9:21 am
LVD retiring. Done.
March 24th, 2026 at 10:00 am
If nothing else it provides needed depth to the LB room. Appreciate it for a low cost low risk signing that hopefully gives the team some quality playing time.
March 24th, 2026 at 10:10 am
2 long haired white boys in the middle…. Interesting. Hoping this will help! I like both players THOR and BOOM mentioned above is cool, now lets get some more talent with the draft on D. As L David if he stays maybe run him on rotation to keep him fresh… GO BUCS!
March 24th, 2026 at 10:18 am
Joe Says:
March 24th, 2026 at 9:04 am
He probably covers like Carol Rosenbloom.
Props for the quality Carroll Rosenbloom blast! 🙂
^^^^^^^^^
Hahaha, I forgot how to spell his first name after 45 years!
March 24th, 2026 at 10:43 am
Seriously, this is the key move. Dude can come in and translate Bowles’ coaching to the rest of the players, now they’ll know all their assignments all the time and execute flawlessly. No more 3rd and 28s.
But 4th and 14 is a different story.
Super Bowles
March 24th, 2026 at 1:01 pm
I LIKE THIS MOVE!!!!!!!
great job licht and bowles!!!!!
looking more and more like we’ll be draft OG with our first pick!!!!
Kadyn Proctor!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!
March 24th, 2026 at 1:30 pm
Not bad. JL could have gone a completely different direction now that we know LVD is retiring. I like the fact we are not taking steps backwards.
March 24th, 2026 at 2:17 pm
Now we got to linebackers with long hair.
March 24th, 2026 at 4:00 pm
They will draft one or two LBs and goodbye LVD I think CB or DL would be next priorities
March 24th, 2026 at 7:05 pm
Not taking steps backward?
🤡
March 24th, 2026 at 11:09 pm
Like this move. Now get a young LB to develop, and please get rid of Dennis.