Historic Review Of Buccaneers Draft
May 7th, 2025
“Jason, they should be walking fat contract extensions over to us any minute now.”
Imagine asking three knowledgeable national NFL analysts to name the biggest steal of the entire 2025 NFL Draft.
Really envision it.
And then think of each guy answering by naming a different Buccaneers pick.
That would be insane. And that’s exactly what happened on the Football Night in America podcast with retired safety Rodney Harrison, the former All-Pro, Hall of Fame head coach Tony Dungy and Jac Collinsworth.
Pressed to name the biggest steal of the draft, Harrison chose the Bucs taking receiver Emeka Egbuka. He said fans shouldn’t be surprised to see Egbuka in the Pro Bowl this year and he praised how smart the pick was given where Chris Godwin and Mike Evans are in their careers.
“I don’t think Emeka got enough respect in this draft,” Harrison said.
The podcast ball was then punted to Father Dungy, who went to Round 7 and Bucs rookie receiver/returner Tez Johnson out of the University of Oregon.
Dungy shared a story about how iconic 22-year Steelers head coach Chuck Knoll (1969-1991) taught him to scout without a stopwatch. Put away the tape measure and just watch the football.
Dungy said that’s what he’s done with Johnson, who Dungy says is a proven stud on film with tremendous production. The former Bucs head coach says he thinks Johnson could be an effective slot receiver immediately, if necessary.
“I think he’s going to give them what Bucky Irving gave them, just a lift and a jolt,” Dungy said of Johnson.
And then Collinsworth’s voice had disbelief in it after his colleagues went with Bucs rookies, as he had chosen one of his own: second-round pick cornerback Benjamin Morrison.
Collinsworth referenced sitting in NBC production meetings with Morrison and being blown away, in addition to his play on the field. He called him a locker room dream, an intense leader and “one of the true awesome people to be around.”
Harrison later confessed to Collinsworth triggering him weeks ago to study more Morrison film. The result was Harrison walking away convinced the Bucs got a first-round talent.
Wow.
Forget about if any of these three Bucs rookies are “steals.” Joe would be damn happy if they’re all simply strong rookies in their roles. That would mean the Bucs are a measurably better team, a Super Bowl contender.
(Fist bump to the commenter who prompted Joe to pull this post off the to-do list.)
May 7th, 2025 at 9:42 am
Lets just wait and see them play some games.
Go Bucs
May 7th, 2025 at 9:52 am
Jason Licht has a proven track record. The roster is a Super Bowl talented roster but is the head coach able to get them to the Super Bowl. Unfortunately, Coach Bowles as a head coach has been in the bottom tier of the NFL.
May 7th, 2025 at 9:54 am
Man, that gets me pumped! I feel like the floor on Emeka is a good #2 wr. I will withhold judgement on Tez because I have been fooled before by the Trey Palmers, jayden mickens, and kenny bells of the world. Morrison will be great if healthy!
May 7th, 2025 at 9:59 am
@Joe , will the Buccaneers rookie mini camp be open to the media? If so what days? I enjoy what little football I can get this time of year. Can’t wait to read all about the flag football practices.
May 7th, 2025 at 10:24 am
Agree with @Ryan. I’d love to see some Bucs practices or hear about them from the Joes.
May 7th, 2025 at 10:29 am
Tez at 155 lbs is just too small to succeed in the NFL. I have seen countless other really small players come into the league who show great in underwear football and then sometimes even make splash plays in preseason or a reg season game or two. But the size, speed and violence of the game eventually gets to all of them and these small players eventually become too concerned about being hit instead of focusing on making plays! Even Tyreke Hill who is small by most standards is 5’9″ and 185 lbs with blazing sub 4.30 speed in the 40 yds. Tez is much smaller and no where near as fast.
May 7th, 2025 at 10:43 am
Sounds great to me. Seeing is believing!!! LFG
May 7th, 2025 at 10:52 am
If that happens, then it just might be JL’s best draft and that’s saying something!! Personally, I think Morrison may be our best pick talent and character wise!
May 7th, 2025 at 11:02 am
@bucksfan they also said Bucky was too small to be successful and look how he produced. I think if he can get to 165-170 and play limited roles on offense and maybe the return game he could have a surprisingly productive season. Anything from a 7th rd pick is playing with house money. Also I will always respect Tony dungy opinion when it comes to football.
May 7th, 2025 at 11:25 am
Tez is
Fine just as is…just ask spud webb or muggsy bogues how their size affected their game
May 7th, 2025 at 11:44 am
Please remember all the Polly positive happy talk when Bowles has them flame out yet again.
He’s 1-3 in the postseason.
Baker is 1-2 in the playoffs as a Buc.
They only beat a reeling Eagles team that was circling the drain and missing both stud receivers. Not very impressive.
Bring in all the talent you want. It’s the scheme stupid!
When Bowles is gone this team will take the next step. Not until then.
May 7th, 2025 at 11:48 am
That is crazy!
Licht is the man!
We got a WR offensive 1st round pick.
And a CB defensive first round pick.
Both captains. Both non-divas. Both heroes!
And we got a 2nd round talent from a 3rd round pick in Parish! Why? Bc he’s 5-9?
You know else was 5-9? Ronde freaking Barber! That’s who!
And David Walker looks like a 1st round freak as well.
I would take David Walker over the Falcons pick of Pearce any day!
It will be very interesting to compare Walker vs Pearce this year.
And Elijah Roberts also looks like a 4th round pick. Who we got in the 5th. Money!
Great draft.
Just a great draft.
God. Yes God. Protect all these young men!
Go Bucs!
May 7th, 2025 at 12:00 pm
tb#1 Easily the most NEGATIVE human being posting here. I feel sorry for his health. AGAIN…negative thoughts produce horrible neurotransmitters while positive thoughts produce positive drugs manufactured by the body.
TB#1 knows more than Licht and the rest of the NFL. LMAO
All this talk of the locker room. How important is it?
People were lusting big time this off season for the Bucs to sign Myles Garrett from Cleveland. What was his contribution to the Browns? He and Baker were back to back #1 draft picks and how did Garrett pan out?
He produced double digit sacks for seven straight seasons. How did his TEAM do? The Browns sucked out loud. They were exposed to Garrett’s poison in the locker room due to his jealousy of Baker. Only room for one barn rooster in Garrett’s world.
So 7 straight double digit sack seasons, run off the QB and split the team.
How did the TEAM do? They lost FIVE of the seven seasons Garrett produced those incredible numbers! Mayfield was the QB of the first winning season with Garrett..he ran him off and Joe Flacco was drug out of mothballs to win the other.
Meanwhile the Browns are STILL looking for a QB!!! THIS is a prime example of what a locker room cancer can do to a team!
May 7th, 2025 at 12:44 pm
If Tony Dungy says it, I will believe it. His little toe knows more about this sport than I will in my entire lifetime. In Licht, this Bucs fan trusts!!
May 7th, 2025 at 12:44 pm
I love the Tez Johnson pick. Don’t care about the measurables. This kid stands out on film. He did it at a high level for a big time program. Try to find him on a flanker scream behind Wirfs, Barton, and Mauch. Not only will he make the team as punt returner, he’ll make some big plays on offense. He’s going to be fun to watch, starting Friday.
May 7th, 2025 at 1:23 pm
meanwhile (some) sour bucs fans who couldn’t analyze their own arse from their own elbow wanna criticize this draft… we went 0-4 for part of last season while godwin and evans were out. shepherd was hit or miss, palmer hasn’t quite developed how we wanted yet. mcmillian couldn’t be the sole succession plan.
we have more depth and quality backups at pretty much every position now. (except maybe offensive line) we have a veteran stud in reddick plus diaby and braswell have had more time to develop at edge.
we’ll address the inside linebacker succession plan and add some offensive line depth next offseason / draft. but honestly our four guys at inside linebacker are studs. walker and deion jones are our backups? that’s amazing.
my bet is this team wins at least 2 more regular season games than last year at 12-5, takes the division title, and makes a run for the holy grail.
May 7th, 2025 at 1:32 pm
You guys are always Licht like he’s the greatest draftnik in the world but if that is the case why aren’t the Bucs perpetually in the SB and constantly losing night games against equal teams. with all the telent they are suppossed to have.
May 7th, 2025 at 1:43 pm
I trust Dungy’s judgement, but Tez is just to small. I liked the idea someone had to have that 464 lb guy throw Tez at the QB. We can call it the dwarf dart.
May 7th, 2025 at 1:54 pm
So very happy with the draft picks. Cannot wait to hear more about them!
I haven’t met one person that is unhappy with our picks. Went to visit family stationed in another state last week and they were overjoyed with the picks too. No matter where they are stationed, the Bucs are their number one team. FSU too. Jason did very well.
May 7th, 2025 at 1:55 pm
Drdneast that is an easy question to answer. It is because the Bucs have a bottom tier head coach.
May 7th, 2025 at 2:29 pm
I expected this to be another David Walker draft diamond in the rough story. It seems like the Bucs got steals throughout the draft. Its going to be fun to watch the rookie mini-camp, OTAs and Minicamp this year. Preseason will be must watch too. I liked Qb Pratt coming out last year so he will be interesting to watch run the offense as well.
May 7th, 2025 at 2:58 pm
Devonte Smith is 6′ 166 lbs.
He’s doing ok for Philly
And TB#1
Please remember all the negativity you repeat multiple times every single day ! Us positive types will remember our positivity and hope….. We’ll also have the same name so it’s easy to know what we think, and thought last year, unlike yourself.
Meanwhile, you and your park bench pervert friend will have created how many new IDs to avoid your own words and your track record making predictions? You’ve had at least 4 this year. C’mon man (boy? girls? whatever?) 😳🤣
May 7th, 2025 at 3:32 pm
Lots of optimism with all of these draft picks! I think the 2 corners are going to be long time Buc starters either this year or next. Also think Tez is an amazing talent. No doubt whatsoever he makes this 53 man roster and produces immediately! Just praying we have fewer injuries this year. We had our share last year.
May 7th, 2025 at 3:42 pm
TB#1 sees being positive as a bad thing. What a sad thing to think. If we are “Polly positive” I guess that makes you a negative Nancy or a Debbie downer. See we can alliterate too.
So glad to hear of the steals we got in this draft. After last years triple or inside the park home run, it’s nice to think we backed it up with another triple or even a double. I’ve heard good things on all players and Sean Sullivan seems to like our picks too. Never heard a hall of famer claim a 7th round pick was his favorite in the draft. That’s just insane. Can’t wait to see this team come week 1
May 7th, 2025 at 4:17 pm
I like the first 3 picks (though I wanted D in the 1st). These are 3 long term starters. I’m hopeful for the 4th snd 5th rd picks, but we don’t have the best history on day 3 D-Line picks. Let’s wait and see about 7th rd and UDFAs.
May 7th, 2025 at 4:49 pm
they wouldnt tell us but i wonder if our picks have a medical score on these guys…weve had some guys bounce back from injury, some never did. some we will see. if you cant play enough, all the talent is irrelevant. i watched the orlando magic never get value from grant hill, who otherwise hit all the checkpoints.
joe talked about how important this is, i agree, just want more layers to the story than where joe went
May 7th, 2025 at 5:01 pm
loads of hype for the 7th rounder that has no size, no speed, and minimally shifty.
he’ll get broken in half going across the middle in an nfl game….if he even gets the chance. might not even make the 53
May 7th, 2025 at 5:14 pm
I just love the fact that the Nancy boys on these boards get so upset with me and throw tantrums.
I’m just pointing out the glaringly obvious fact that the defense is our problem.
I miss the days when teams were lucky to get 10 points on the defense.
Had Dungy not been so conservative on offense we would have won multiple SBs and a dynasty.
We need another coaching change to get back to that standard.
Love you all so much!
May 7th, 2025 at 5:48 pm
I’m an OSU guy so I love our first round choice but the David Walker pick will prove to be the steal of the draft. This guy will prove to be the key to changing the defense into a dominant machine. All you have to do is watch his highlight tape to know that he’s going to translate at the next level. If he stays healthy I expect him to be the best edge rusher this franchise has seen. I haven’t been this pumped about a player since we drafted Chris Godwin.
May 7th, 2025 at 9:51 pm
Great article, Joe! Awesome read.
May 7th, 2025 at 9:59 pm
Agree million percent with the bowels take! I don’t think he’s good enough either to get them over the hump. We’ll see hope I’m wrong would love a thrid title
May 7th, 2025 at 10:00 pm
If it’s and but we’re candy and nuts it’d be Christmas everyday….
We shall when the season start who stands out….. 💤 💤
May 7th, 2025 at 10:28 pm
Hey Joe,
Do you know when the rookies get to pick their numbers?