Last year, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell just short of the postseason. To prevent that from happening again, the front office has been making some bold moves in free agency, including signing one of the most underrated defensive players from the Super Bowl LVI champion Los Angeles Rams.
The Rams’ championship run four years ago had clear stars. From Matthew Stafford and Puka Nacua on offense, to tackle Aaron Donald and linebacker Jared Verse on defense.
Others, like wide receivers Colby Parkinson and Xavier Smith, defensive end Tyler Davis, and cornerback Keir Thomas, played a more understated but equally vital role in that season.
Such was the case with linebacker Christian Rozeboom, who has been a key player for both the 2021 Rams and the 2025 Carolina Panthers, and who will play for the Buccaneers in 2026.
Tampa Bay is betting on Rozeboom to bolster its defense
The Buccaneers confirmed the signing of Rozeboom in a post on X (formerly Twitter). At the end of last season, the star linebacker left the Panthers as a free agent.
Rozeboom is coming off an outstanding season with Carolina, in which he contributed 122 tackles in 15 games. A year earlier, still with the Rams, he tallied 135 tackles.
Although he has already played five seasons in the NFL, his breakthrough began in 2024, when he finally became a starter in Los Angeles. His numbers from the last two seasons speak for themselves:
- 257 tackles, 128 solo tackles
- 12 tackles for loss
- 3 sacks
- 1 interception
The Buccaneers’ free agency
The Tampa Bay front office has had a very active free agency period, signing six players and re-signing three more, including linebackers Alex Anzalone and Al-Quadin Muhammad.
After losing Lavonte David, Haason Reddick, and Anthony Walker in free agency, the Bucs are rebuilding their linebacker corps, and Rozeboom will be a key part of that process.
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