CBS: Emeka Egbuka Is Terry McLaurin
April 25th, 2025
New Bucs rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka.
Those who listen to the “Ira Kaufman Podcast” or regularly read this site know Joe has often compared new Bucs receiver Emeka Egbuka to Chris Godwin.
Joe swears Egbuka playing for Ohio State looks exactly like Chris Godwin. He’s versatile like Godwin, he’s physical like Godwin, he has hands like Godwin and he runs the ball off handoffs and jet sweeps on occasions just like Godwin.
(Ira thinks Egbuka is more Amari Cooper.)
Well, it seems Chris Trapasso of CBS is on the same wavelength as Joe. But Trapasso thinks Egbuka is more of a Terry McLaurin twin.
At Ohio State, Terry McLaurin was a low-volume, vertical route tree specialist who entered the NFL at an older age. That’s precisely the one-sentence scouting report on Emeka Egbuka. While he was utilized underneath a tick more frequently than McLaurin and might be a bit bigger and not quite as scintillatingly fast, the two Buckeyes products are best utilized down the field tracking the football deep.
So why does Joe think he’s on the same wavelength as Trapasso? Joe always considered McLaurin to be a hair-bit lesser Godwin. So yeah, Joe thought Egbuka is McLaurin and Joe thought McLaurin is a lesser man’s Godwin, so yeah, same ballpark.
(McLaurin sure tore up the Bucs in the playoffs.)
Regardless, Joe thinks the Bucs got a helluva player last night. Would Joe have preferred a defensive tackle? Sure. But it’s not like Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht came up empty.
April 25th, 2025 at 12:31 pm
Glad we got a stud WR to add to the stable.
“Investiture” in our high-flying offense.
April 25th, 2025 at 12:32 pm
Did the majority of fans want a defensive pick last night? Of course! But look at the offensive weapons that the Bucs have currently. Good lord! Now let’s hope Grizzard can put this all together and make it work coherently.
April 25th, 2025 at 12:33 pm
This was likely the safest choice in an area of targeted need.
I’m fine with it because I’ve seen what a team looks like with no credible receivers.
Would I have rather them picked the CB Barron from Texas? 1000%
But I’m just a guy watching sports, not a GM.
And Licht has made a few franchise lifting draft picks at WR.
Evans alone changed the culture of the position in Tampa.
I wanted Licht to stick to what he does best.
And with this pick he did just that very thing.
Now he needs to show the same skill set on the defensive side of the ball.
LFG!!!
April 25th, 2025 at 12:39 pm
Yep, I went to bed disappointed with the pick and I too wanted Barron, the CB from Texas. I’m not saying Egbuka won’t be a good player, he will. He’s a “safe” pick, but if we were gonna pick WR in the 1st, I would have taken Golden from Texas. He can take the top off a defense.
April 25th, 2025 at 12:39 pm
Jason picked “best player,” over “most needed position.”
A “good call” under the circumstances: a cornerback can definitely be found in the second or third round. Looks good so far.
And a deep-ball-capable-receiver is needed. When Mike & Chris were out last year, it demonstrated how the various back-uo receivers “needed work.” A good, reliable, primarily slot receiver is actually a needed-position to fill.
April 25th, 2025 at 12:40 pm
Next up…Alfred Collins/Schwesinger/Nohl Williams (yeah i know, trade ups will be needed)
April 25th, 2025 at 12:49 pm
Golden is going to come up Diva. Just watch. Meanwhile, we got a hard nosed coal miner who just wants to put his head down and work. I’m so pleased, I’m grabbing another wee dram.
April 25th, 2025 at 12:51 pm
I went to bed disappointed with the pick, mostly because of my ignorance, because I never thought we would pick him and hadn’t read anything about him at all.
I hadn’t even watched his highlights to be honest.
But now I’ve done my homework.
Everyone has fantastic things to say about him. He looks smooth, tough, has great hands and elite route running. He’s apparently the best character guy in the whole draft.
I’m happy about it now. Baker has to enter top-5 discussion after this year, he needs to have his best season yet, and I admire the Bucs’ commitment to him.
I’ve always thought that the Super Bowl we won was a clear reflection of how a team needs pass rush to succeed.
But our weapons in the Super Bowl were Gronk, AB, Evans, Godwin and Fournette. Guess there was another lesson to be learned from that game as well.
April 25th, 2025 at 12:52 pm
So, wasn’t Godwin a 3rd rounder!? Not sure why we would pick a “lesser Godwin” with our 1st round pick!? Doesn’t make a whole lot of since to me!
April 25th, 2025 at 12:57 pm
That’s actually a really weird take. Egbuka is a high volume receiver unlike McLaurin. He finished as the all time leader in receptions for the program. He’s not a deep threat near the extent as McLaurin, averaging 12.5ypc the last two seasons. He’s a much closer comp to Jaxson Smith-Njigba or Amonra St. Brown.
April 25th, 2025 at 12:58 pm
@ugotrobbed The draft’s weird. Picks are judged based on perceived ‘value’. But if the right player’s there for you, you wouldn’t take him if there were no ‘value’?
It’s not like the Draft’s an arcade game you have to win. Who cares what your ‘score’ based on ‘value’ is.
What matters is you get great players that fit your culture and team.
If you’re sure a 7th round graded player is elite, take him in the 3rd.
Also, in a Re-Draft, Godwin would be a top 15 pick.
April 25th, 2025 at 1:02 pm
EE’s interview was awesome. Clear as day why JL drafted him
April 25th, 2025 at 1:03 pm
Joe, Logan Hall has been consistently improving every year since we drafted him and if that continues, he will be at Stud status next year. But I do think a beast DT makes more sense than another edge rusher.
But in my opinion, we need the best Safety and CB available in the next 2 rounds.
April 25th, 2025 at 1:04 pm
Even while making your positive E² point, you clearly highlight the necessity for a defensive impact player. You can try to hide the truth, but it always finds a way to slip out
April 25th, 2025 at 1:05 pm
He reminds of Amon Ra St. Brown
April 25th, 2025 at 1:05 pm
E² will be a consistent stud for years to come. You can take that to the bank.
April 25th, 2025 at 1:06 pm
Remember when the Browns “won the draft” when they took Justin Gilbert and Johnny Manziel in 2014?
Remember when the Vikings “won” the 2013 NFL draft where they had 3 1st rounders and took Shariff Floyd, Xavier Rhodes and Cordarelle Patterson?
Who cares what analysts say 2 hours after the draft.
The Bucs have become elite drafters and just took a guy they’re confident in.
Did you guys see the JL presser? I don’t think I’ve ever heard him more confident and energetic after a 1st round. Not when they took Kancey, not when they took Wirfs, not when they took Vita.
April 25th, 2025 at 1:20 pm
As the day goes on Emeka is sounding better and better. Great comparisons. Glad we got him. Cannot wait to see who we get next. Still hoping for Donovan Ezeiruaku.
April 25th, 2025 at 1:21 pm
his name is eggbuka…and he always keeps a few hard boiled eggs in his backpack…so to get his protein for the day
April 25th, 2025 at 1:23 pm
spytek is getting poor grades, sorta…for drafting that running back so early in vegas
April 25th, 2025 at 1:27 pm
Yes, JL was beyond convinced; similar to the Graham Barton score.
April 25th, 2025 at 1:29 pm
Didn’t we draft Winfield, Irving, Smith, Godwin, David, Goedeke, all after the first round stop with the sky is falling!
April 25th, 2025 at 1:36 pm
Really like the player but after signing Godwin for as much as they did just frustrated with the pick. Just doesn’t seem like he doesn’t give anything different then what they have if you want to add a different dynamic I can see that but you got more of the same but it is what it is on to the second round.
April 25th, 2025 at 1:43 pm
Sorry Ira, just watching the highlights, of Egbuka I don’t see the separation that Amari Cooper, I saw some great hands, clean sharp route running, and some tough blocking. I see more Godwin, maybe even some Hines Ward
April 25th, 2025 at 1:54 pm
The kid is much more like Egbuka than any other receiver….TBBF would bet on it.
April 25th, 2025 at 1:55 pm
I see a little bigger and faster version of Amon St. Brown.
He also appears that he is a little faster to me than Godwin coming out of college.
Godwin had the surprising 40 time at the combine but never quite looked that speed in college or the pros.
April 25th, 2025 at 2:01 pm
I think Licht said this is a pick for today and the future. 2-3 years playing with Godwin and Evans soaking up all that knowledge this guy will be a great receiver that Bucs fans will gladly embrace when Chris and Mike retire or leave. More sold on him than I am on McMillan, but time will tell. He said that he already has a relationship with McMillan so they 2 could be great together after Mike and Chris.
April 25th, 2025 at 2:02 pm
I think Licht said this is a pick for today and the future. 2-3 years playing with Godwin and Evans soaking up all that knowledge this guy will be a great receiver that Bucs fans will gladly embrace when Chris and Mike retire or leave. More sold on him than I am on McMillan, but time will tell. He said that he already has a relationship with McMillan so the 2 could be great together after Mike and Chris.
April 25th, 2025 at 2:29 pm
Stupid pick.
We’re in win now mode and I’m not exactly sure how this guy will help us get off the field on 3rd down – the only reason we didn’t get past the WC round.
Comparable to the Trask pick. Great chance we would have gone back to back had we drafted better in those 1st and 2nd rounds.
April 25th, 2025 at 2:31 pm
I would’ve loved Barron but this kid is a stud. Helps us now and in the future. Hopefully the corner from East Carolina is still available with our next pick. Kid would be long gone if not from the injury. Hopefully we get to take advantage of that. Defense is also a lot deeper in this draft. Still plenty of time for JL to work his magic.
April 25th, 2025 at 2:47 pm
OK, I’ll reserve judgment until the draft is completed, but I’m not overly excited picking a WR in round 1. The Bucs have lots of needs on defense. WR was not a “need” when you have our current WR corps. Yeah, I get it, someday Evans and Godwin will not be around. However, that “someday” is not 2025.
April 25th, 2025 at 2:58 pm
We can love the player all we want but it doesn’t change the fact it’s a questionable use of the number one pick. This defense is still far from playoff caliber. We’re expected to believe it was Lights choice all along. If that’s the case, I’m starting to think his ego is clouding his judgement.
April 25th, 2025 at 3:00 pm
I really don’t understand Joe’s obsession with defensive tackle when ILB and DB are way more pressing needs. VEA, Kancey and Hall are one heck of a front. Throw in Reddick and Yaya and Braswell on the ends, they are good. I think they will probably take an edge or DT but definitely was not going to be a first round pick.
April 25th, 2025 at 3:13 pm
Yeah, I heard someone (can’t remember who right off) say this to Colin on “The Herd” this Wednesday, then they both kind of laughed and were like, well yeah, that’s a stretch, but we both REALLY like him.
April 25th, 2025 at 3:20 pm
I said earlier, during the week, that I would be ‘ok’ with the pick, IF Jalon Walker did not slip to the Cowboys/Miami/Indy range (for a trade-up), AND if the top CB wasn’t still on the board (Barron). JL has to trade-up for either Green or the BC kid and at least make sure he gets one of them, & BIG DEONE WALKER in the 3rd. If he can do that, then I’ll be happy and call-it a win!!!!
April 25th, 2025 at 3:24 pm
If e2 is Terry McLaurin, that would be fantastic as that is a star WR. McLaurin has been burdened by playing on some really boring and bad teams so he doesn’t get a lot of press nationally, but he’s really good.
With that said, from what I’ve seen, I don’t think the two are very similar – at least based on McLaurin’s NFL tape where he’s mostly been an outside player, and e2 sure appears to be a very natural fit in the slot.
Then again last year everyone said McMillan was a natural slot WR and he ended up playing most of the year outside, even after Godwin got hurt, so who knows how the Bucs actually end up using him.
Regardless e2 is a very good WR and a very safe pick, even if he might lack some of that superstar upside I personally like to see in a 1st round pick. But even with that, I still really like the pick. If Evans was to suddenly lose a step, if Godwin is a bit slower to recover than expected, e2 could get you some wins with McMillan, where as a 3rd string corner standing around in zone wasn’t going to win you anything right now while the Bucs still feel like their window is open.