Pete Prisco: Emeka Egbuka Is A Good Player, But…
April 30th, 2025
Draft analysis.
Open-minded people who aren’t irked by the Bucs’ pick in the first round seem to be on the same wavelength.
There are haters outraged at Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht. It’s been a while since Joe has seen this many Bucs fans who didn’t like the first-round pick, Emeka Egbuka.
Perhaps not since Devin White was selected over Josh Allen the pass rusher has Joe seen so many folks upset over a Licht first-rounder.
Open-minded people can connect the dots that the Bucs will need a top-shelf receiver in the near future. Rondé Barber, a man who is no stranger to the inner workings of One Buc Palace, sure threw gas on the fire yesterday when he said “something is up” with one of the Bucs’ top-three receivers that solidified Licht’s call to pick Egbuka.
But haters want to holler at their Hooters girl because they are so peeved the Bucs did not draft an inside linebacker or a safety with the No. 19 pick.
It was the defense, not the offense, that was the problem last year, they say, and that should have been addressed immediately in the draft.
Color Pete Prisco of CBS, who gave the Bucs an “A” grade for the 2025 draft, as one of the open-minded folks who thought Licht should have gone defense-first. And Prisco hinted if the Bucs come up short in a Super Bowl run this season, it will likely be because the defense got roasted, not because the offense failed.
Worst Pick: I think receiver Emeka Egbuka is a heck of a player. But I might have gone corner or edge in the first. Having said that, I understand the pick because of the age of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin’s injury.
“This Joe” was hoping the Bucs would have gone defensive tackle, safety, then corner. There’s a lot of things a defense can do when you have monsters in the middle on the defensive front. Just look at Philadelphia.
And right now, the biggest hole on the Bucs roster is safety, no doubt about it. At least brittle SirVocea Dennis has some quality experience at inside linebacker.
Corner? The only problem there is a veteran starter can’t stay on the field.
Joe thinks Ebuka will be a home run selection. And Joe was stoked that the Bucs got him. But Joe gets why some folks are bitter.
For the folks out there who hate the pick because they never heard of Egbuka before NFL chieftain Roger Goodell called his name? Well, Joe can’t help those who won’t help themselves. That’s not Licht’s fault if people choose to live in caves.
April 30th, 2025 at 10:41 am
I believe the pundits are wrong. Licht always finds the value players that are hanging out later in the draft. There wasnt a player they valued more than Morrison at CB. Walker and Roberts are underrated beasts that played at small schools so didnt have the exposure that some of the others had. To spend a 1st round on Campbell would of been a big gamble I think. Originally I wanted him to be picked to be the heir operant to LVD. But the injury is a big question mark. If we had EE last year when Evans and Godwin went down I think the Bucs brass believe we win 1 or 2 more games.
April 30th, 2025 at 10:42 am
OK…what’s done is done….time to move on….we’ve made our choice.
April 30th, 2025 at 10:42 am
People don’t get it. The Bucs DC gets it. He knows that the offense must outscore the other team, more points helps the defense not lose even though they give up 30 points and 450 yards.
April 30th, 2025 at 10:44 am
A lot of the Edge rushers and corners dropped to the second round. There is a reason for that. JTS is a perfect example of taking 2-3 round talent out of need. I never hear why Egbuka should not have been take based on talent.
April 30th, 2025 at 11:04 am
I can hear RayJay chanting EEEEEEEEEEEEE when he does something good. Like Joe Joe Delicious back in the day.
April 30th, 2025 at 11:05 am
I’m glad I’m a dummy come draft time cos I don’t follow college football. So, I check in to read what informed/educated folks think. Bucs drafted heavy on Defense. Works for me. The only ? mark I have is the punter. Hope Bucs will be okay there.
April 30th, 2025 at 11:10 am
Best player at a position of need. And they loved Egbuka.
You don’t have to always draft the highest need with the highest pick, with all the other factors involved, including draft depth at other positions. They were obviously very confident they would be able to boost the defense in rounds 2 through 5. And it appears they did it.
Every year the second-guessers/armchair-GMs whine and cry that the professional scouts and personnel people didn’t decide to draft the way they thought they should. It’s totally predictable.
April 30th, 2025 at 11:26 am
I think the biggest improvement the Bucs organization made in the off season was between Coach Bowles’ ears.
He made the comment and it was reported here on JBF that he learned that the offense need to score more points than the other team.
That sounds, to me like Coach is finished with the whole playing not to lose, conservative mess that he’s known for.
Now we got something, folks! In my opinion, if Coach Bowles backs that comment up with in game action I believe we can win it all.
Go BUCS!
April 30th, 2025 at 11:29 am
@SwissCheese, noted NFL draft expert and personnel evaluator, still trolling.
April 30th, 2025 at 11:29 am
Why would we be shocked? Defense has been giving games away since Super Todd took over!
April 30th, 2025 at 11:32 am
I think people need to stop and think. The Bucs know and have known where their weaknesses are. Listen to Ronde!!, when he say something is up with the receivers on the team , you can probably take that to the bank. The Bucs knowing their weaknesses selected a great player on offense for a reason!!. Time will tell and people need to have some trust here!!. With that in mind the Bucs light have a good history with picks in the later rounds. Please take a look at those picks!!. Yes all defense!!. As we know often the matter round picks do better in the bfl than the first round picks!.
April 30th, 2025 at 11:35 am
BORING!
April 30th, 2025 at 11:36 am
Do they not know Bucs’ history?! Evans and Godwin will most likely miss time. I’d say the over/under is 6 games worth of time between the two of them. Hopefully they don’t miss any time, and if they do, it’s at different times. But history shows that probably won’t he the case. So yeah, draft a stud receiver. If there was another stud receiver available in the 2nd round, I would have been okay with drafting him too. Remember, Tampa is the Hammy Capital of the World.
April 30th, 2025 at 11:40 am
FilthyAnimal Says:
“@SwissCheese, noted NFL draft expert and personnel evaluator, still trolling.”
Reality = Trolling in your mind.
Zero punts forced in the playoff loss to the Redskins.
But yeah, let’s go WR in round one.
No one is doubting the talent EE has.
We needed a lock down CB and Barron was right there.
This will haunt us in the 2025 season.
April 30th, 2025 at 11:42 am
I have to agree with the those who wanted some beef up front on #1 pick. But, like some one here already said, it’ done and over. We’ll see at the end of this coming season. I don’t know why but I am fascinated by our 4th round pick. Also, I predict Braswell = JTS.
April 30th, 2025 at 11:47 am
If Evans retires after this upcoming season and one of our other top receivers suffers a severe injury, leaving us thin, some fans would be screaming for Licht’s head had he not drafted a WR to prepare for that possibility.
Licht is totally aware that the defense needed to get fixed this season, but fixing it through the draft is not the only way to do that. He will add pieces via free agency and has the cap room to do so.
If any of you believe you can do better than Licht at building a team, submit your resume to Cleveland, as they need help!
April 30th, 2025 at 11:50 am
If Godwin is down for the 2025 count then the pick makes perfect sense. Otherwise …
Surely there will be some top notch receivers available in the 26’ draft.
Will be interesting to see how Campbell performs for the Eagles this year.
And please stop with the most points wins scenario. This team had few problems scoring points last season, but they had BIG problems with stopping opposing offenses from seemingly scoring at will—even making Cousins, who was later benched for lack of productivity, appear like a first ballot Hall of Fame shoo in.
We are not haters. We are, just like those who worship Licht and Bowles, fans who want nothing more than for the Bucs to win!
Where some want more offense, we want more defense.
April 30th, 2025 at 12:00 pm
Problem with the pick at 19 is, the bucs are assuming Reddick is the answer at DE. He may not be. If thats the case, where is this new found Pass rush coming from?
April 30th, 2025 at 12:05 pm
Bucs didn’t have Barron rated as the highest
April 30th, 2025 at 12:16 pm
PICK SHOULD HAVE BEEN JIHAAD CAMPBELL
They could have let him heal and devolop behind SV and LVD. WR vets like Amari Cooper and Keenan Allen are still available to cover for CG.
Next year’s draft is LOADED with WR talent.
April 30th, 2025 at 12:20 pm
Bold Prediction::: Offensive player rookie of the year , 10 TDs , 1000 yards
April 30th, 2025 at 12:33 pm
Next year first round NT then LB /CB/SAFETY after that, the usual offensive line or wr
April 30th, 2025 at 12:37 pm
SlyPirate Says:
April 30th, 2025 at 12:16 pm
Because you did all the scouting the Bucs did and have a better grasp on their roster. I’ve read that the Bucs preferred Schwesinger anyway.
I love it when armchair GMs, without all the detailed information on these players, and not knowing what the actual NFL coaches we employ think, say “they should have drafted…”
Predictable post draft whining.
April 30th, 2025 at 12:39 pm
SlyPirate Says:
“Next year’s draft is LOADED with WR talent.”
If that is the case, Licht will draft another WR.
He could care less about improving the defense through the draft.
Bowles job is completely safe no matter the results.
28-27
April 30th, 2025 at 12:46 pm
SwissCheeseDefense Says:
April 30th, 2025 at 11:40 am
What you call “reality” is opinion and projection. And yeah, continuing to pound your opinion as if it were reality is, in fact, trolling. Go back to your cave.
Lockdown corner? Apparently they didn’t think Barron was that. I don’t know if you noticed, but they took 2 CBs, and Morrison has a first round grade without the hip issue. Morrison could end up being every bit as good or better than Barron.
“This will haunt us” is a prediction, a projection, your reflexively negatively biased opinion… not reality.
April 30th, 2025 at 12:47 pm
Egbuka is and should be a great player. If Godwin and Evans are healthy, how many snaps does he get. I don’t have a problem with the player.
What is fact is the Bucs pass defense blew out loud. The linebackers including Lavonte, who I love was not great in coverage, were as bad as we’ve seen around here in a long time.
Safety, Winfield was injured and when he was in was average at best. He is also 1 concussion away from possible retirement.
Corners are again average at best. All though we should have upgraded with a couple of picks, Barron was sitting there for an immediate upgrade with taking close to 100% of the snaps.
So we shall see, if we can’t cover the 2 step drop and quick throws, it doesn’t matter who you have coming of the edge. There won’t be enough time to get to the QB.
April 30th, 2025 at 12:48 pm
I think it’s hilarious that people not employed in a front office think they know better than Jason Licht. #Sad
April 30th, 2025 at 12:52 pm
TBBF, I’m with you bro’! Bring on training camp and let’s see how things look.
April 30th, 2025 at 12:54 pm
Is it too late to trade for Hendrickson. His guaranteed production would sure make me feel better than all this hope for production that we currently have. Hope hasn’t served us well in prior years
April 30th, 2025 at 1:01 pm
FilthyAnimal Says:
April 30th, 2025 at 12:48 pm
I think it’s hilarious that people not employed in a front office think they know better than Jason Licht. #Sad
—————
Hey Filthy, I hear ya! The clodhoppers are coming out in force. At least, I know I’m a football dummy compared to highly paid pros like Licht and Bowles. Both those dudes have proved themselves. Some of these yo-yos would have stroked out being a Buc fan back in the late 1980s.
April 30th, 2025 at 1:04 pm
I think FilthyAnimal is in fact Jason Licht.
Smartest guy in the room, in his own mind.
Only compliant lemmings that regurgitate the preferred narrative are accepted as cognitively superior.
Jason Licht is derelict in his duty as GM until he fires Bowles.
28-27
April 30th, 2025 at 1:04 pm
I agree with P², and
April 30th, 2025 at 1:04 pm
Buccos Says:
April 30th, 2025 at 12:54 pm
Yes.
Also, which edge guy would you get rid of to accommodate him on the roster. The numbers don’t work unless you wanna cut Nelson, or Braswell, or just-drafted David Walker.
We are in good shape now with young edge rushers.
#Think
April 30th, 2025 at 1:23 pm
I would trade all 3 of the guys you mentioned for Hendrickson in a heartbeat. We have a window that could close when Evans retires or comes back to earth. I want to win it all NOW!!
April 30th, 2025 at 1:40 pm
Swisscheesedefense.
I appreciate you thinking that Jahdae Barron was the guy.
Some of the folks in Denver where he was picked have the same complaint you do in reverse.
Their position is we had a stout defense especially with our defensive backs.
Some quotes from The Athletic from Denver fans
“I’m definitely kind of on the list who feel like drafting a nickel/flex guy in round 1 doesn’t feel great when teams wr2”
“both top additions are undersized”
“Broncos got one of the 3 worst draft classes in football this year. Lawd! What a sorry plan.”
“Everyone could pretty much agree that the Broncos biggest needs in the draft were a running back, wide receiver and tight end”
April 30th, 2025 at 2:24 pm
Philadelphia also had great LB and CB play, maybe due to the DL pressure. But, you need dogs at all levels.
April 30th, 2025 at 3:02 pm
If the reports are true, that the Rams wanted to grab Egbuka and were calling teams to trade up for him, what does it say about the remaining talent after he was selected? The Rams thought it was better to trade out of the first round all together.
April 30th, 2025 at 3:04 pm
I just don’t think NFL teams see value in a first round ILB or S. WR, DT, CB EDGE for sure
April 30th, 2025 at 3:12 pm
The Bucs drafted a very promising edge, and a DE.
April 30th, 2025 at 3:38 pm
Completely disagree on weakest position group. We have 3 starting level safeties (Izien, AWJ, Smith). We have 2 starting level ILBs. Sirvocea has been limited to 100 something snaps the last 2 seasons, before injuries. That does not = starter… at this juncture at least.
April 30th, 2025 at 3:39 pm
@SwissCheeseBrain loves his armchair reflexive negativity. Thinks he has “reality” on his side. Doesn’t know the difference between reality and opinion. The Bucs could win the Super Bowl this year and he’d blame Bowles for not winning by enough…
And he thinks I’m Jason Licht. Funny.
If you think that I think I’m the smartest guy in the room it’s probably because I’m confounding you by deflating all your stupid complaints.
April 30th, 2025 at 3:47 pm
FilthyAnimal Says:
“The Bucs could win the Super Bowl this year and he’d blame Bowles for not winning by enough…”
I would bet every penny I have in the world that that will not happen.
Bowles can barely navigate the worst division in football.
I have zero issues with him as a person or a man.
But he is not the guy that will get us to the SB as a HC.
28-27