It sounds like the Buccaneers snatched one of the biggest undrafted gems right out from underneath the rest of the NFL
According to reports, the Bucs have found a diamond in the rough and his name is J.J. Roberts.
Arguably the biggest development of Tampa Bay Buccaneers training camp is the secondary’s strong play. The unit has made life hell for Baker Mayfield and the Bucs offense on a consistent basis, which is important for the defense, as a whole.
One player that’s really stood out is undrafted rookie J.J. Roberts. Per reports, he’s routinely making plays and has really grasped Todd Bowles’ scheme. He’s learning both the nickel and safety positions, showcasing his intelligence to go along with his athleticism and speed.
He’s done so well that Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds has dubbed him an “absolute steal” at this point in training camp. Reynolds also says Roberts is on his way to making the 53-man roster because he’s been so damn good.
“Undrafted free agent J.J. Roberts looks like an absolute steal. Unless he bombs in the preseason, Roberts is on his way to making the 53-man roster because he’s made so many plays in practice. Both Parrish and Roberts seem poised to receive playing time as rookies.” – Scott Reynolds, Pewter Report
If Roberts continues to pan out, this is another huge UDFA win in the secondary for Jason Licht and Bowles. Keep in mind defensive back Christian Izien was a UDFA, as well as the ascending Kaevon Merriweather. Licht and Bowles clearly have a keen eye for secondary talent and they’re finding guys who are contributing early in their careers.
“It’s almost like he’s just playing off just God-given ability,” Bucs cornerback Jamel Dean told reporters when asked about Roberts. “[He’s] very instinctive and then it’s like, once he learns the coverage he understands where he needs to be. He’s been making a lot of plays for us during this training camp.”
We’ll see if Roberts can hold it together in the preseason, but right now the odds of that sound pretty good as he continues to carve a path toward the 53-man roster.
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