Home NFL Buccaneers Select DE/EDGE Elijah Roberts, SMU with the 157th pick in the...

Buccaneers EDGE Rusher Elijah Roberts / via Instagram

Buccaneers Select DE/EDGE Elijah Roberts, SMU with the 157th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft

April 26, 2025

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have selected EDGE Rusher Elijah Roberts from Southern Methodist University with the 157th pick on the 2025 NFL Draft.

Roberts struggles with lateral movement and chasing plays outside the tackle box, often getting caught a step behind or overrunning the ball. His 21% missed tackle rate is rooted in poor balance and a reliance on arm tackles, which faltered against quicker backs.

The disparity between Roberts’ impressive sack numbers and technical skillset reveals a player with raw talent but notable limitations. While he excelled against weaker competition, he struggled against top-tier lines. As a result, his value lies in being a rotational defender, contributing on early downs and in passing situations, particularly through interior stunts rather than edge pressure.

Roberts’ final two college seasons showcased his dramatic growth, with 17.5 sacks, 93 tackles, and four forced fumbles. He transformed from a reserve player to team captain and defensive leader. His East-West Shrine Bowl appearance gave NFL scouts a front-row seat to his skills in action against top draft prospects.

This is a project pick for the Bucs. Roberts most likely will be a decent rotational player. Look for the Bucs to play Roberts more as a Defensive Lineman rather than EDGE Rusher. A great comparison would be to Will Gholston.

Make no mistake, Roberts can get after the quarterback. But there are a lot of things he needs to work on.