It’s rare for Todd Bowles, or any coach for that matter, to make a key roster decision before the end of July. The Buccaneers brought in several new faces to the secondary this offseason, and there’s plenty of competition for the nickel spot and backup safety roles.
But Bowles has already seen enough from defensive back Christian Izien to publicly confirm he’s secured a spot on the 2025 roster.
“[Izien] is valuable. He’s going to be here,” Bowles said when asked about Izien’s importance to the defense. “I can tell you he made the team. He does so many things well for us. He’s a football player. He comes to practice, he comes to play. You see the same guy every day, and he just loves to play and the guys love him, so he’s been great for the defense.”
The vote of confidence comes just days after Bowles called Izien the “unsung hero” of last year’s defense, crediting his versatility and ability to step into multiple roles after injuries ravaged Tampa Bay’s secondary.
According to Pro Football Focus, Izien played 308 snaps at free safety, 205 in the slot, and 135 in the box during the 2024 season. He even stepped outside his usual responsibilities to play snaps at outside corner when depth issues demanded it.
Izien first signed with Tampa Bay as an undrafted free agent in 2023, then earned the starting nickel cornerback role as a rookie after a strong offseason. He made an immediate impact in Week 1, recording a clutch goal-line interception that proved to be the difference in a 20-17 season-opener win against the Vikings.
While Izien may not be penciled in as a starter this year, he remains one of the team’s most important depth pieces, and will continue to see playing time thanks to his versatility that allows him to contribute all over the secondary.
The Buccaneers' secondary battle just got even tighter
With Izien getting the early good news on his roster status, the competition for the remaining depth spots just got even more intense.
The two players who may be most impacted are undrafted rookies J.J. Roberts and Shilo Sanders. The two undrafted safeties have both impressed as they battle for a roster spot, but there may be room for just one of them on the final roster.
With the premium that Bowles places on versatility, Roberts appears to have the early edge, and he may be following a similar path to Izien, who also made the team as an undrafted rookie thanks to his ability to line up all over the secondary.
“[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,” stated Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds.
“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, rivaling Christian Izien for that title.”
Roberts and Sanders aren’t the only young Bucs fighting for depth roles at safety. Kaevon Merriweather, Marcus Banks, and Rashod Wisdom are also in the mix.
Merriweather, in particular, brings an edge in experience. He appeared in 14 games for the Bucs last season and 10 as a rookie in 2023. His familiarity with Bowles’ system gives him a clear advantage, and it will take a strong camp performance from one of the rookie to push him off the roster.
With Izien’s spot locked in, the fight for the remaining few jobs in the safety room will come down to versatility, special teams contributions, and who can separate themselves fom the pack now that the pads are on.
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