The Tampa Bay Buccaneers released on Apr. 17 a comprehensive look at their history of fifth-round selections in the National Football League draft, updating the list to include picks through the 2025 season.
The overview is significant as it provides insight into how these mid-to-late round selections have contributed to the team’s roster and performance over nearly five decades. The article highlights notable players, patterns in drafting strategy, and statistical outcomes for those chosen in this round.
Among recent developments, SMU defensive lineman Elijah Roberts, selected with pick No. 157 in 2025, played all 17 games as a rookie and started nine times. Other recent fifth-rounders such as tight end Payne Durham and linebacker SirVocea Dennis from the 2023 draft also made starts for Tampa Bay. Zyon McCollum, drafted in the fifth round in 2022 out of Sam Houston State, became a full-time starter by his second year and has started a total of 42 games so far.
Historically, three offensive linemen—Steve Wilson (1976), Ian Beckles (1990), and Pete Pierson (1994)—each played more than 100 games for Tampa Bay after being picked in the fifth round. Wilson leads with 126 games played and was primarily used at center during his tenure. Beckles started at right guard for most of his career with the team while Pierson was mainly a reserve but stepped up during key playoff moments.
Not every selection found success; six players taken by Tampa Bay in this round never appeared in an NFL game due to various reasons including injuries or not making final rosters. The article notes that among defensive picks, linebacker Jeff Davis stands out with five seasons as a starter and over six hundred tackles for Tampa Bay after being drafted in this spot.
The summary concludes by noting trends such as frequent targeting of offensive line positions—specifically guard and tackle—in this round across fifty years of drafts. Five colleges have each produced two Buccaneer fifth-rounders: Georgia, Kentucky, Nebraska, Notre Dame, and Purdue.