The Tennessee Titans thought they had an undrafted gem on their hands following the 2019 NFL Draft. Then-GM Jon Robinson signed former Texas and Sam Houston State EDGE Derick Roberson to an undrafted deal. Roberson made a late-season impact as a rookie, recording three sacks in Tennessee's final two games.
Roberson failed to post appropriate follow-up showings, unfortunately. Roberson spent portions of two more seasons in Nashville, but he never replicated that rookie-year form. The undrafted defender totaled 1.5 sacks in 13 appearances in 2020-21, and his career in Tennessee ended on injured reserve.
For those rooting for the former Titans EDGE rusher, there's a little remaining hope that he's currently recapturing his previous momentum.
If you've not been tuned in to the UFL this spring, you might have missed the ascension of Roberson into a legitimate pass rusher. While it never consistently happened for him in the NFL (yet), we're glad to see him having a moment in the spotlight.
Derick Roberson is proving he still belongs on a pro field with a breakout UFL season
Through nine games with the D.C. Defenders, Roberson ranks third in the UFL in sacks with 5.5 QB takedowns (behind Pita Taumoepenu and Willie Taylor III). For the first time as a professional, Roberson been offered the chance to be a featured target on defense, and he's seized the opportunity.
That timeline should sound familiar to anyone who followed Roberson's collegiate path as well. After a pair of uneventful campaigns at Texas, Roberson transferred to Sam Houston State in search of more playing time. He exploded for the Bearkats in 2018, recording 15 sacks.
Roberson never located his footing in Tennessee after his late-season rookie breakout. He had a short stint with the Houston Texans' practice squad in 2022 before joining the Houston Roughnecks via the XFL's supplemental draft in 2023.
Roberson's UFL success not only represents a positive turn for a player written off, but it should gain some traction with NFL training camp approaching. Plenty of spring standouts have turned their momentum in developmental leagues into NFL invites. Perhaps Roberson will look like an intriguing option for teams looking to add some competition before training camp.