Jason Licht: Christian Rozeboom “Kind Of Fits The Mold”
April 2nd, 2026
New Bucs linebacker Christian Rozeboom.
Yes, the Bucs signed the Panthers leading tackler in the second wave of free agency, inside linebacker Christian Rozeboom.
The veteran starter had 122 tackles last season, including 7 tackles for loss and 2 sacks. He had a 135 tackles for the Rams in 2024.
Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht talked about Rozeboom this week at the NFL owners meetings in Arizona.
Joe asked Licht why he signed Rozeboom.
“Tough, he’s very instinctive, he’s competitive,” Licht began. “You know, I think he kind of fits the mold of what we’re looking for in the type of attitude that we’re looking for. He’s played a lot of games. He’s been very good on special teams. I think he’s going to compete for a job for significant playing time. But at the end of the day, whatever his role is we’re going to be happy to have him.”
Joe is confident Rozeboom will compete for a starting job with whatever rookie inside linebacker the Bucs draft. Obviously, big money free agent inside linebacker Alex Anzalone will be locked in starter at the other inside linebacker job.
Rozeboom, 29, smells like quality depth. But Joe was intrigued by Licht’s special teams comment on Rozeboom, who did not play special teams last season. Most of his experience there came with the Rams in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
The Bucs really have pushed hard this offseason to improve their special teams. And that started with adding former Steelers special teams coordinator Danny Smith. Man, Joe heard fun and inspiring stories about Smith at the owners meetings. He’s already had a positive impact in various ways.
April 2nd, 2026 at 8:20 am
Hungry, tough, and ST? Jason was paying attention.
April 2nd, 2026 at 8:22 am
Then why was he signed to a 1 year deal? More like he might fill a temporary need AND he was cheap!
April 2nd, 2026 at 8:36 am
Lot better than what Licht put on the field last year
April 2nd, 2026 at 8:38 am
Hard to get excited about a player our rival replaced.
April 2nd, 2026 at 8:39 am
WE’LL SEE LOL
GO BUCS!!!!
April 2nd, 2026 at 8:44 am
Still a lot of wait and see for the offseason before I personally get excited or down on this teams moves. Both excited and nervous for the draft. Hopefully they can hit on some picks to shore up secondary and front seven this year
April 2nd, 2026 at 8:53 am
Great news. Fits the Bowzo Mold. Hmmmm? Yep that D scheme is pretty moldy.
April 2nd, 2026 at 9:00 am
I really like this signing!
April 2nd, 2026 at 9:01 am
And if he makes a critical play in any game to help us win it’s worth it. People seem to forget that’s what guys are paid to do. So be it a ST play, a substitute play or what ever just help the team win. Anyone remember Jack Squirek for the Raiders? Or what he did? Ever? 1 play.
April 2nd, 2026 at 9:02 am
Oh and that play happened in Tampa Stadium
April 2nd, 2026 at 9:36 am
After last year’s injured riddled season the importance of good backup players is critical to a successful season. Jason Licht is signing exactly 💯 that. Injuries are part of the game. Last season was different but last year’s season was also a wake up call. Jason Licht’s choices are not breaking the bank but he’s signed quality players that will put the 2025 in the rear view mirror.
Thank you Jason Licht.
April 2nd, 2026 at 9:51 am
Voc Dennis had 101 Tackles, 12 TFL, 3 Sacks, but Dennis stunk in coverage
Rozeboom sucked in coverage more than Dennis
He should be competing with Dennis for a ST role
We need a young, speedy, playmaking ILB
April 2nd, 2026 at 10:23 am
This is what improving your depth is supposed to look like.
April 2nd, 2026 at 10:37 am
We added Killebrew also – an ace gunner. ST’s *should* be improved this year.
April 2nd, 2026 at 10:47 am
Hodad … Panthers’ defense finished ranked #15 and the Bucs’ defense ended up ranked #20. Rozeboom was the Panthers leading tackler. Sounds like a move in the right direction for the Bucs.
Possibly wrong, but I predict Rozeboom will replace LVD initially (with Anzalone replacing SVD).
Rozeboom had 2 sacks last year, with 2 QB hits plus 7 TFLs & 1 FF plus 122 tackles (59 solo). That’s fairly good productivity for starting 15 games (823 def snaps). He seems to be fairly good at pass defense too (3 PD with a 72.9% Completion Average Allowed) with only 1 TD allowed.
Assuming that he replaces LVD, compare those stats to Lavonte’s from last year: 3.5 sacks last year, with 6 QB hits plus 8 TFLs & 2 FF plus 114 tackles (61 solo), starting 17 games (1023 def snaps). Lavonte also had 3 PD with a 73.1% Completion Average Allowed but was charged with 7 TDs allowed.
Overall Rozeboom’s 2025 stats are fairly similar to LVD’s so we shouldn’t lose much on the field IF he in fact ends up starting for LVD. We might actually gain a little bit in terms of better pass coverage.
One of the key things I’ll be looking for early in the season is how Bowles will change the defense to better incorporate several new defenders in his scheme. I’m HOPING that he’ll get back to being a LOT more aggressive on defense (he’s backed away from that in these last 2 years, and it’s cost him).
April 2nd, 2026 at 10:51 am
Lakeland … ‘Rozeboom sucked in coverage more than Dennis’.
That’s NOT what his stats say Lakeland. Rozeboom allowed a 72.9% Pass Completion Rate with 1 TD allowed last year, while Dennis allowed a 85.0% Pass Completion Rate with 3 TDs allowed last year. That’s a sizeable difference.
April 2nd, 2026 at 10:56 am
Defense Rules,
I think a lot of this stats was misleading
I watched the Bucs games closely, and l seen something different
LVD was the weak link, and Dennis was getting the bulk of the blame
Everything that went wrong, they were blaming Dennis
Why did PFF give Rozeboom a lower grade than Dennis ?
April 2nd, 2026 at 10:57 am
Rozeboom had 19 missed tackles
And the passer rating against him was something like 108 3
April 2nd, 2026 at 10:59 am
Miles Killebrew is an underrated s/t signing as well. Can’t wait to have competent 4th down play.
April 2nd, 2026 at 11:03 am
Christian Rozeboom
109.3 passer rate allowed
19 missed tackles
47.1 PFF grade
Voc Dennis
114 9 passer rate allowed
14 missed tackles
49.3 PFF grade
My point is they both stunk.
And they should be competing against each other for a ST role
We need a young, speedy, athletic, playmaking ILB
April 2nd, 2026 at 11:07 am
The best Special Teams player (Dennis or Rozeboom) should make the roster
Neither one of them should see the field on defense
Unless we have no other options
April 2nd, 2026 at 11:12 am
We replaced Devin White with KJ Britt
We replaced KJ Britt with Voc Dennis
Now we wanna replace Voc Dennis with Christian Rozeboom
This is the Mentality of a Bottom Feeder
Not the mentality of a Championship Contender
April 2nd, 2026 at 11:19 am
The reality of the situation
We’ve been trying to replace a Top 5 draft pick
With two 5th rounders, and a UDFA
April 2nd, 2026 at 11:20 am
I like what Jason is doing. Most don’t realize but he’s adding toughness, heart and juice to a defense that was soft and looked at times scared. If we do draft the Miami edge rusher who is violent man tbis defense can come back. It’s the same defense that won us a SB. I agree with everyone it’s bin trash since after the 21 season. We almost made another run after our 2020. Bowles just needs the right players. He did it with a beast in suh Shaq vea JPP LVD white was a beast in the post season. He did it before and he can do it again just needs some dawgs