“Just Do Exactly What You Did In College And We’ll All Be Fine”
April 25th, 2025
“Kyle, man, you see how they hooked me up in the draft?”
Joe’s so darn happy for Baker Mayfield today. The Bucs just drafted him a new guy to hand off a wide receiver sweep to in the playoffs.
Too soon for jokes?
Seriously, Mayfield getting stud Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka in his stable is a stunner. He must be totally jacked up. The Bucs are loaded at wide receiver, and at running back, and at offensive line. And they’ve got a very solid tight end and a hell of a kicker.
Can you say 30-plus points per game? Joe can.
Joe remains mesmerized by head coach/defensive coordinator Todd Bowles being all-in on drafting a receiver last night.
Bowles sounded so pleased during his phone chat with Egbuka after he was selected No. 19 overall. The Buccaneers’ official website and video team captured the moment.
“Just do exactly what you did in college and we’ll all be fine. Alright?” Bowles told Egbuka with a big grin.
Damn, after 29.5 points per game last season, the Bucs have a great shot to bust the 30.8 points per game registered by the 2020 Bucs, a team forever in Tampa Bay football lore.
April 25th, 2025 at 1:09 pm
I bet E²’s timing would be perfect on said jet sweep. And it won’t lose us the game. Js
April 25th, 2025 at 1:11 pm
As long as they go for it on 4th down instead of kicking a field goal, I don’t care if they hand it off or throw to him on a slant. Great day for Baker and the Bucs, imo.
April 25th, 2025 at 1:16 pm
Just trade up for Nick Emmanwori and we’ll all be fine
April 25th, 2025 at 1:25 pm
he sounds stoked to attempt the benn’d around
April 25th, 2025 at 1:25 pm
Looking for the hard-to-pronounce-last-name-that-starts-with-an-E twins, huh?
Just trust the Licht/Bowles draft process.
April 25th, 2025 at 1:28 pm
But they know…have to remember Godwin wont be 100% for a while, and Evans has hammy issues at times. Thats why this pick was chosen. Those out there who cant figure that out, theres no help there, sorry. I was thinking 2nd rd for a wr…but hey what do i know…knew we needed one though.
Lots of picks left in the draft today and tomorrow guys and gals….we gonna land some…take some comfort in that.
And yes if Emmanwori falls to us (i know he wont), oh yeah.
April 25th, 2025 at 1:34 pm
Lets GO BUS !!!
April 25th, 2025 at 1:39 pm
Emmanwori, Ezeiruaku, and Egbuka anyone?
Tampa Bay’s announcers would hate it.
April 25th, 2025 at 1:44 pm
KABucs Says:
April 25th, 2025 at 1:25 pm
I don’t think those names are hard to pronounce.
April 25th, 2025 at 1:46 pm
Tough Sale
With nearly early every Edge, CB, S, and MLB was on the board, the Bucs draft a position of depth.
Let’s see how the rest of the draft goes.
April 25th, 2025 at 1:54 pm
Needs at LB, DE, CB and Safety and Licht reaches for a player who won’t play meaningful snaps for 2-3 seasons. Maybe he does miss Spytek helping him out…
This pick makes me feel like Licht didn’t watch the games and just took naps during game days
April 25th, 2025 at 1:56 pm
Licht bombed the draft after the Super Bowl high on their success and now after back to back playoff seasons it seems he’s reverted back to being complacent
April 25th, 2025 at 2:04 pm
Wow – — Just watched his interview with the media from last night.
Unbelievable natural character — clearly a leader.
It will be hard not to root for this guy.
If you like ME’s and CG’s leadership skills — You are going to love his.
This guy going to have a National Championship trophy and a Super Bowl trophy.
April 25th, 2025 at 2:08 pm
X Watts S i from ND n 2nd
C. Bryant CB from Kansas in 3rd
J. Bassa ILB from Oregon in 4th
April 25th, 2025 at 2:14 pm
FilthyAnimal …
… maybe not so hard to pronounce if we are pronouncing them right to begin with. LOL
LANshark,
Emmanwori, Ezeiruaku, and Egbuka are probably harder to spell if you heard the name spoken. I’d surely miss a vowel or consonant somewhere. Cool names though. Glad we didn’t get another McMillan. That would be worse for announcers.
I’d take all 3 E’s on my roster any day, announcers be d@mned!!
April 25th, 2025 at 2:16 pm
Smarter than Joe = Gloomier than Eeyore
Let the whole draft play out, people!!
April 25th, 2025 at 2:18 pm
Smarter Than Joe – won’t play meaningful snaps for 2-3 years? LOL. You need to pick another sport to “analyze.” Egbuka will plug into the office immediately which is why they drafted him. I bet he’ll get more snaps than McMillan this upcoming season.
April 25th, 2025 at 2:26 pm
Filthy Animal
You ain’t Deckerhoff either…😁
April 25th, 2025 at 2:31 pm
There is no doubt that 29.5 points a game record is going down and it will be consistently broken in the coming years a few times. The league wants it that way. There are ENTIRELY too many “protection” rules towards the QB and offensive in general.
April 25th, 2025 at 2:45 pm
TRADE UP FOR EMMANWORI!
April 25th, 2025 at 2:50 pm
Yup, Egbuka will get more snaps that McMillan in 2025. He’ll play in all 3 receiver sets, other than when he needs a breather. If Godwin isn’t ready to answer the bell week one, it’s gonna be Egbuka.
April 25th, 2025 at 2:51 pm
What are they going to do with McMillan. He just found his grove and you draft replacement. In the meantime the entire defense is in need of help.
April 25th, 2025 at 2:54 pm
Emeka isn’t here to replace McMillan, if he’s replacing anyone it’s Palmer/shep.
April 25th, 2025 at 2:56 pm
With Mike being 32 and Chris coming off an injury that could end careers… It makes perfect sense.
The other position is linebacker. They are the in exact same position. They have SirV coming off injuries and LVD getting older… They really need to draft ILB.
I really want Jihaad, I think he’s an all pro, but I will trust the process.
April 25th, 2025 at 2:58 pm
Maybe too soon for that particular joke Joe, lol. 🙂
I didn’t see the video of the phone call until just now.
You’re right. Grins on everyone’s faces.
Nothing against Emeka; I saw his press conference and highlights tapes, and he’s a fine young man who’ll bolster an already excellent offense.
Just wishing we’d focused entirely on defense with this draft given we’ve got so few picks this year.
April 25th, 2025 at 3:00 pm
Perfect caption for that Pic lol
April 25th, 2025 at 3:01 pm
Trade Trask for a 6th and grab an extra player on defense
April 25th, 2025 at 3:01 pm
I actually dont think Trask would go for a 6th…maybe add in a hot dog?
April 25th, 2025 at 3:07 pm
Egbuka runs a full route tree but specializes in the most difficult aspects of the skill. He averaged over 12 yards per target on over routes and over 14 yards per target on digs per Hudl. And because of his explosive deceleration he creates easy separation. His average separation on all 103 of his targets last year was 4.2 yards. Matthew Golden’s was 3.7. Tetairoa McMillan’s was 3.4.
April 25th, 2025 at 3:17 pm
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports
Round 2, Pick 53: JT Tuimoloau, Edge, Ohio State
Round 3, Pick 84: Lathan Ransom, SAF, Ohio State
has any team ever drafted from one school exclusively in an NFL draft?
April 25th, 2025 at 3:19 pm
It’s so hard to wrap my mind around this pick.
I already love Emeka and know he’s gonna be a great WR for us. Gonna be a true pro who brings his lunch pail to work everyday. So on one hand I love the player we added.
On the other hand, it’s just feels too safe for JL. This was a can’t miss pick which is awesome, but is it what we need at this moment to help win a SB… I don’t think so.
We will never know if a D player would have panned out for us but we will be able to see what Barron, Starks, Campbell and Ezeriraku do in the league. Starks and Barron could have been starters for us day 1.
The insurance for Godwin, Evans doesn’t make a ton of sense to me. If that’s the line of thinking we should be in the market for an OT in case Wirfs goes down, Goedeke is on expiring contract … or an ILB in case David gets injured … what if Vea gets injured? D is just so much more of a concern for this team. Can’t wait to hear Bowles excuses this season if injury bug hits that side of ball again.
April 25th, 2025 at 3:23 pm
“Mhystc Says:”
Maybe, but I think the plan is to replace Evans next year and his 22milion dollar contract. Everybody gets old and Evans’ is old and costs a lot of money.
April 25th, 2025 at 3:27 pm
@ Tbucs3 maybe a Smoked Brisket could get us a 5th 😆 🤣
April 25th, 2025 at 3:30 pm
Babygrace Says:
I agree, but I see Bucs keeping Evans until he decides to hang it up. Licht, has said plenty of times hes a Buc for life.
So we might see Evans on 1 year deal. Sorta like LVD.
April 25th, 2025 at 3:31 pm
That’s what happens when you add Kurt Angle to the mix.
April 25th, 2025 at 3:41 pm
Wow…some of you just dont get it…and i think you dont want to. He’s not WR3 or WR4…he’s future WR1…(and current WR2, maybe WR1 this year if injuries occur) maybe we just got him a year early so he can learn behind the best if, BIG IF, they’re healthy, BUT IF NOT?…dang why is this so hard to figure out?!?!? How did we win games? SCORING!!! smdh….please get back to basics people.
April 25th, 2025 at 3:44 pm
LANShark – LOL could you imagine Gene Deckerhoff trying to announce those guys?!
Poor Dave Moore!
April 25th, 2025 at 3:50 pm
I’m stoked! after JTS,Logan Hall,Kancy,Barton this is so much more exciting! It is a safe yet exciting prospect. Lets get 2 corners and linebacker and D-line or edge with the rest of the picks. Every year we lose Evans and Godwin for multiple games–this is a necessary pick. Jalen McMillan will get plenty of reps. Lets go 4 wide reciever sets. what team can cover 3-4 wideouts of the caliber we have? awesome pick!
April 25th, 2025 at 3:56 pm
NOW someone’s gettin it!
@Saskbucs at 3:19. Well done sir.
In your last paragraph of your post, what I have been screaming about this nonsensical move outta fear. “If that’s the line of thinking we should be in the market for an OT in case Words goes down, or if David goes down, Vea down…yada yada.
EXACTLY!
How bout living in fear (and running a draft) obsessing over an arbitrary hypothetical injury to Baker?! On and on.
(Stuff) happens kids.
Drafting in what-if-injuries does NOT get anyone to a Superbowl run, making the most of a hall of farmer’s final seasons.
You all see Roseman in Philly operating with that mindset??? H3ll nah.
April 25th, 2025 at 3:57 pm
*Wirfs
April 25th, 2025 at 4:04 pm
It is absurd to have signed two receivers for more than $20/mil each and then draft another receiver. More absurd for people here to applaud this stupidity. What’s next–we draft a place kicker with the 2nd pick in case our kicker gets hurt?
April 25th, 2025 at 4:10 pm
The short term positivity is low. Going from 29.5 (4th) to 31 (2nd) is a help, but not a ton.
Could they have gotten a defensive player that could have brought the ppg against from 22.7 (17th) to 21 (8)??? That would be huge.
April 25th, 2025 at 4:13 pm
Jalen McMillan played significant snaps last year as a 4th rounder….This guy will play a great deal and quite frankly both Evans and Godwin missed alot of games last year. Great pick, well done Bucs!!
April 25th, 2025 at 4:38 pm
Like the last 2 years. Baker Mayfield will be a fantasy stud!
April 25th, 2025 at 4:38 pm
Only way this pick doesn’t work out this season is if he or one or more of our Olinemen get injured. Doesn’t matter who’s playing receiver if ur QB doesn’t have the time to throw to them.
April 25th, 2025 at 4:57 pm
Smarter than Joe, u really think this kid won’t play meaningful snaps for THREE YEARS!!?? Oh momma, it appears ur not smarter than anybody
April 25th, 2025 at 4:58 pm
I saw the Kyle Trask joke…. lololol… and Florida fans out there still rooting for Trask?
April 25th, 2025 at 5:20 pm
He’s much faster out of his breaks than Chris Godwin is, which is no knock on Chris but coming off the injury you want to ease him back into the lineup. “E” will be explosive in the Buc offense, especially early in the season while Chris is getting back into football shape. This is a safe pick just like Mike Evans was a safe pick. What is so impressive is he is a national champion and played against many DB’s who were drafted last night. Drafting “production” IMO is better than drafting athletic guys who go crazy everytime they make a catch. This guy is already like a professional as Ohio State is “WR U”. Look at all of the greats that have played there and “E” is their all time leader in catches. If Chris isn’t playing he is going to be targeted a lot. He is already the best route runner on the Bucs with the best hands. Just bank him, no flash or gold chains, a pro and a guy who immediately upgrades an already great pair with Mike and Chris. J-Mac will get his catches but he isn’t the route runner “E” is nor will he make the catches in traffic.
April 25th, 2025 at 5:55 pm
Pro u
Alabama: As of the current NFL season, Alabama has the most players on NFL rosters.
Ohio State: Ohio State is a close second, with a significant number of players on NFL teams.