The Bucs’ addition of wide receiver Emeka Egbuka brought initial shock to the fan base and even the reporters who cover the team on a daily basis. In short order, though, Egbuka has looked every part of a first-round pick and someone who can be a gamechanger on Tampa Bay’s offense as soon as this season.
His time at Ohio State allowed him to play next to some of the best wide receiver prospects in the country and learn how to share the ball and find every way to contribute lining up in different spots and playing a role even when the ball was not in his hands.
Things will be no different entering a receiver room boasting the likes of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin at the top and competing with Jalen McMillan and seventh-round pick Tez Johnson to see the field. Egbuka will look to make the most of his chances, and at mandatory mini-camp this week, he impressed each of Evans, head coach Todd Bowles, and quarterback Baker Mayfield.
The Bucs Are Catching Emeka Egbuka Up With The Offense Quickly
Much of the logic surrounding the Bucs’ decision to draft Emeka Egbuka stemmed from being pro-ready. Egbuka is the latest of Tampa Bay draftees to fit the bill of being a high character, intelligent football player who is willing to do whatever it takes to win.
Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
It came as no surprise that second-year wide receiver Jalen McMillan gushed about the rookie’s knowledge during OTAs late last month.
“He’s a pro,” McMillan said. “He’s really serious about practice and already knows damn near half the playbook. I’m really excited for his growth and his future here.”
Egbuka has had the chance to get extra reps throughout the offseason process as Chris Godwin has been out while still recovering from his season-ending ankle injury and Mike Evans being a veteran who does not need to be on the field as much. Todd Bowles believes he is already catching on quickly to offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard’s system.
“We’re getting him caught up fast. Him and [Jacob] Parrish are getting an awful lot of reps right now with people down and injuries,” Todd Bowles said after the second day of mini-camp practice on Wednesday. “He’s getting accustomed to the system really [well]. He’s a really smart player, he’s a heady player and he understands all of the positions, so he’s getting a lot of time at all of them.”
Emeka Egbuka Looking To Find His Fit In An Elite Bucs Wide Receiver Room
Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield is aiming to take more ownership of the offense this season. One of the most difficult albeit fun challenges he will have is figuring out a way to get the football to all of his different offensive weapons. Before last season, I wrote a two-part series discussing whether Mayfield had the best supporting cast around him yet in his NFL career.
That argument proved to be true as he went on to have a career year, but things look even better this year.
Not only do the additions of rookie wide receivers Emeka Egbuka and Tez Johnson help to make that argument but having a solidified running back duo in Bucky Irving and Rachaad White will only make his life easier picking holes in opposing defenses and finding ways to distribute the football.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Right off the bat, Mayfield thinks Egbuka is plug-and-play player who can slot in anywhere, which was one of the biggest bullet points on his scouting report entering the league.
“Obviously, the physical tools…At this level, you have to have talent, and obviously he has that, being a first-round draft pick,” Mayfield said about his impressions of Egbuka so far. “The thing that sticks out is how cerebral he is. He’s so smart. Right now, I think we could plug-and-play him at every [wide] receiver spot – he understands the offense that well. That’s just him being a pro already. He’s not a rookie – he doesn’t act like it at least.
“It’s been really good to see him take that ownership. He takes it really [seriously]. He’s in constant communication – he always wants to be in the right spot at the right time. He’s much like J-Mac (Jalen McMillan) [in] the understanding of zone coverage – and like Chris [Godwin], as well – of understanding when to be open, the voids in the zone defense, and how to be friendly to the quarterback. It’s a nice luxury to have.”
Egbuka might have been seen as a luxury pick at the time he was made the 19th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but the Bucs have made it clear that they viewed him as one of the best players on the draft board after sending in their selection.
Bucs WRs Emeka Egbuka – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Mike Evans surely knows talented wide receivers when he sees them, having played next to numerous high-profile wide receivers in his career. From the late Vincent Jackson to DeSean Jackson, Antonio Brown, and obviously Chris Godwin, among others, Evans has been a part of some talented rooms.
That’s why his comment on Thursday stuck out when he discussed just how good this year’s group of wideouts is.
“I know I say it a lot, but this might be the best receiver room I’ve been a part of,” Evans said. “I say it every year, but we always get great players coming in. That’s been very fortunate for me in my career, to be around a lot of great young players. They’ve added to the room tremendously. They’re very polished already. Emeka has really strong hands. [He’s] super smart. Tez [has] speed and quickness.”
Egbuka has also drawn comparisons to Chris Godwin in terms of playstyle, and Evans sees the similarities.
“He looks like a running back, but he catches like Chris Godwin,” Evans said. “He’s very polished, very well-rounded player.”
The praise put on Emeka Egbuka has been plentiful after he has impressed in offseason practices. When the pads come on in training camp is when the “dawgs” come out, so we will see how he fares and if he continues to shine later in the summer.
