While Shilo Sanders is the undrafted free agent receiving the bulk of the spotlight, J.J. Roberts is flying under the radar as a player the Buccaneers are really high on, and one with a real chance to make the roster if he puts together a strong training camp.
If you’re not familiar with Roberts yet, now’s the time to learn the name. He’s a versatile defensive back who was born to play in head coach Todd Bowles’ defensive scheme.
Before signing with Tampa Bay as an undrafted free agent, Roberts played safety at Marshall. Bowles has already mentioned Roberts as a candidate for the nickel cornerback role as well. That positional flexibility could be his ticket to sticking around on a crowded depth chart.
Roberts is also a standout athlete who tested extremely well during the pre-draft process. Although he wasn’t invited to the NFL Combine, he turned heads at his Pro Day with a 4.41-second 40-yard dash, a 40.5-inch vertical leap, and 20 bench press reps — all of which would’ve ranked among the top three at his position at the Combine.
JJ roberts is a FS prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 9.67 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 41 out of 1207 FS from 1987 to 2025.https://t.co/wAePXkegpe pic.twitter.com/HM1In3KKnB
— RAS.football (@MathBomb) April 4, 2025
According to Kent Lee Platte’s Relative Athletic Score system, Roberts earned a 9.67 out of 10 — making him, without exaggeration, one of the most athletic safety prospects in recent history.
But Roberts isn’t just a workout warrior. He posted 94 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble in 2024, along with an impressive 14 passes defended in his final season at Marshall.
Over the entirety of his college career, he registered 3 interceptions, 5 forced fumbles, 6 tackles for a loss and an eye-popping 25 passes broken up.
Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds, a respected Buccaneers insider, revealed just how highly the front office views Roberts — even sharing that the team had a draftable grade on him as a prospect.
“[His] athleticism has caused the Bucs to move Roberts around the field, to free safety, strong safety, slot cornerback and even outside cornerback for a couple of reps, just to see what he could do there,” Reynolds stated.
“If Roberts, who is known as a hard-hitter, impresses when the pads come on… he could not only make the 53-man roster, but he could be the most versatile defensive back in Tampa Bay’s secondary…”
That blend of athleticism, versatility, and production gives him a legitimate shot to carve out a role as a depth piece in the secondary, and potentially become a hidden gem for Jason Licht and his staff.
Still, the road won’t be easy. With significant competition for limited roster spots, Roberts will need to turn in a strong camp to separate himself.
Among all Buccaneers rookies, he may have the most to gain, or lose, based on his performance in the coming weeks.
More Tampa Bay Buccaneers news and rumors