Standing 6-foot-10 with rare athleticism, the former UCF standout brings mammoth size and elite testing numbers to Tampa Bay’s wide-open competition for depth along the offensive line.
Following the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' seven draft picks, the team added 17 more players as undrafted free agents.
On Saturday, The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner named the best undrafted free-agent signing for each team, with former UCF offensive tackle Paul Rubelt earning the honor for Tampa Bay.
The towering Knights lineman received the nod from Baumgardner, staying relatively close to home after spending all six of his college seasons in Orlando.
At 6-foot-10 and 313 pounds, Rubelt was one of the tallest prospects in this year’s NFL Draft. He also boasts nearly 36-inch arms and a wingspan measuring just over 83 inches.
“(Rubelt) is an outstanding athlete for a man his size,” Baumgardner wrote. “He ran a 4.99 40 (1.79 10-yard split) and posted a 32-inch vertical. Rubelt moves like an athletic basketball player, even if leverage is a natural issue. He’s definitely worth a look.”
While All-Pro tackle Tristan Wirfs has solidified one side of Tampa Bay’s offensive line, the opposite tackle spot has seen constant turnover in recent years.
That’s where Rubelt becomes an intriguing option, as his size alone gives him unique upside.
Rubelt didn't get serious about football until age 13, coming to the United States as a foreign exchange student.
At UCF, Rubelt started 10 of his 11 appearances at left tackle last season, helping anchor a Knights offensive line that thrived in the run game during his time with the program.
Current Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey frequently benefited from large running lanes created by Rubelt and the rest of UCF’s offensive front, as the Knights finished with the fifth-best rushing attack in the nation at 248.1 yards per game.
Rubelt also excelled in the classroom, earning three AAC All-Academic Team honors along with one All-Big 12 Team selection.
Tampa Bay has found success with undrafted offensive linemen before, most recently with Benjamin Chukwuma.
Chukwuma appeared in five games for the Buccaneers last season, logging 151 offensive snaps. Across 89 pass-blocking reps, he surrendered just six total pressures and one sack.
Though his role was limited, Chukwuma flashed potential by using his 6-foot-6, 310-pound frame effectively in pass protection.
He also posted a 62.5 Pro Football Focus grade, ranking ahead of established Tampa Bay linemen such as Ben Bredeson (53.7) and former first-round pick Graham Barton (61).
Like Chukwuma, Rubelt possesses rare size that simply cannot be taught. If he can continue developing his technique and agility, he could eventually carve out a role as a rotational piece along Tampa Bay’s offensive line.
At the very least, Rubelt projects as a potential goal-line contributor, serving as an extra blocker in heavy packages.
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