New Bucs defensive tackle Elijah Simmons went undrafted this year, which is not a surprise.

This year’s defensive tackle class was considered quite deep, and Simmons was only used as a rotational player in college. He played six seasons at Tennessee and never topped 200 snaps in a season and never recorded a sack in college. The Cardinals gave him a strong guarantee for an undrafted free agent and played well in the preseason, recording a run stop and a tackle in 25 snaps over two weeks. Still, Arizona opted not to carry him on their 53-man roster and initially snuck him through waivers and signed him to their practice squad.

Bucs DL Elijah Simmons Photo by: USA Today

After the Bucs lost Calijah Kancey to a season-ending pectoral injury, they signed Simmons to their active roster. The two players could not be more different. Consider this from their pre-draft physical profiles.

Weight – Simmons (334 lbs) – Kancey (281 lbs)

40-yard dash – Simmons (5.38 seconds) – Kancey (4.67 seconds)

This is interesting in that in recent years the Bucs have actively gotten smaller at the defensive tackle position. The average weight of the Bucs’ defensive line as of opening day was just 304 pounds. This isn’t a new phenomenon either.

The Bucs’ defensive tackle room has hovered around an average of 300 pounds since 2023 and that’s with the 350-pound Vea occupying about 20% of the calculation. But the NFL pendulum is swinging back to heavier offensive personnel and more running. And you can see the Bucs adjust to this change in real time. Simmons wasn’t their first BIG big-man addition. They also added 335-pound Jayson Jones to their practice squad earlier this season as well before his season was cut short after he landed on injured reserve.

Elijah Simmons Pops Off The Tape

Elijah Simmons was not given much time to get acclimated before the Bucs through him into the line of fire. He played in the Jets game just four days after he signed with Tampa Bay. It was only 10 snaps, but more than enough for him to pop on tape. Simmons played mostly 3t/4i in that game. And from those alignments he made life difficult for the Jets run game. His effort off the line is explosive. His get-off that game, as measured by Next Gen Stats, was an elite 0.65 seconds.

Bucs DL Elijah Simmons – Photo by: USA Today

Pairing that get-off with a low center of gravity from his six-foot-one-inch stature and the power that he wields behind his prominent mass turns him into a runaway freight train that bulldozes through the line. With the Jets trying to run wide zone, Simmons often cut the ball carriers path off early and forced premature re-routes.

Fast forward to the Bucs’ matchup with the Eagles in Week 4, and Simmons was back at it. Against one of the better interior offensive lines in football, Simmons was again playing bully ball. He absorbed double teams without giving up an inch. And just as he did the week before, he bullied his way into the backfield. On separate reps he was able to leverage Landon Dickerson and Cam Jurgens straight back, proving he can be a pocket compressor who aides on passing downs. But it is not where he sees his true calling.

Pewter Report’s Adam Slivon caught up with Simmon and asked him about his obvious play strength. He replied, “I came here to play on 1st and 2nd down, stop the run. My physicality is something I always pride myself on. Being able to go out and execute. Just to be the guy.”

No more was that strength and physicality on display than in the fourth quarter when he single-handedly worked through multiple people enroute to a WWE-style clothesline of Saquon Barkley.

How in the WORLD was this guy sitting on a practice squad while five teams are out here giving up +0.10 EPA/rush or better???? pic.twitter.com/D2LdTvqeSJ

— Joshua Queipo (@josh_queipo) October 1, 2025

The Ripple Effect Of Adding Elijah Simmons To The Rotation

As Elijah Simmons learns more of the Bucs’ defense, his snap counts should rise as he is a legitimate problem for opposing offenses. Simmons’ presence can allow head coach Todd Bowles to get even more creative with his defensive line configurations.

With his ability able to play the nose, Bowles could pair Simmons with Vita Vea and Greg Gaines to get to a true 2-gap package that frees up outside linebackers Haason Reddick and Yaya Diaby as well as inside linebackers Lavonte David and SirVocea Dennis to freelance more and create additional havoc in the backfield.

Bucs DT Vita Vea and Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Simmons can also help Vea get advantageous matchups over tackle every so often without having to worry if they are too light up the middle. But perhaps best of all, he gives the Bucs a true backup at nose tackle and allows Greg Gaines to transition to more of a 5t/4i where he is better suited to play. It will also help the Bucs keep their full menu of Vita plays possible when Vea needs a breather.

This seems like a lot for an undrafted free agent with just 25 snaps under his belt, but the early flashes have been THAT good. Speed off the snap, power and strength that plays at the NFL level. But the real lynch pin is his awareness when engaged. He doesn’t get too myopic, focusing on his obstacle. He loves to lock out his arms and finding the ball so he can move to the action and make a play.

Elijah Simmons could be a real factor on the Bucs line both in the short term while they navigate injuries as well as the long term in future years. And that can be the small silver lining amongst all of the injuries the team is battling.