Big Role For Emeka Egbuka
June 29th, 2025
Waiting to be unleashed?
Yes, Joe loved seeing Bucs first-round pick Emeka Egbuka look like a seasoned pro in underwear football the past couple of months.
There’s a catch: It was underwear football. It’s made to highlight skill position players, just like flag football is.
Can Egbuka carry his excellent underwear football season over as a rookie to the regular season? We have a little over two months to see. Training camp starts in less than a month — less than a month!
Over at ESPN, Jenna Laine seems to think the Bucs will use Egbuka in the regular season all over the place. So much so that Joe assumes opposing defenses each game will be constantly hollering, “Where’s nine?”
Egbuka is going to have a big role in the Bucs’ offense, especially with Chris Godwin still recovering from ankle surgery, and even after. He has shown up a ton in the short passing game — really helping Tampa Bay stretch the field horizontally, and at times looking like a running back once the ball is in his hands — but he’s also been on the end of some big plays downfield.
“The thing that sticks out is how cerebral he is,” QB Baker Mayfield said. “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.”
If Egbuka carries his solid underwear football play to the season, new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard ought to have all kinds of fun. If Egbuka really can play all over the field, Joe figures that ought to create mismatches and maybe pull some coverage away from Mike Evans.
If that happens, look the eff out. Evans being single-covered often means disaster for a defense.
June 29th, 2025 at 8:59 am
I can’t wait to see this offense run. I’ve been a Bucs fan since 1976, and we’ve always been known for defense. In 1979 it was Lee Roy Selmon and that def that
almost took us to the Super Bowl. Same in 1999 Sapp, Brooks etc. But this offense the Bucs have had since BA has been a blast. Watching real franchise QBs like Brady and Baker beats watching the likes of Vinny Testaverde, Chris Chandler (who is Chris look it up we send 1st round pk to Colts within a yr he was cut. Pick was the 1st overall) or Trent Dilfer. I can’t wait, the seasons getting closer. Go Bucs!!!
June 29th, 2025 at 9:03 am
Egbuka is going to make a noticeable impact. He’s the real deal and will definitely give Evans favorable match ups along with our other receivers and backs. It will also make it where Godwin can work himself back in smartly. Godwin at 75 to 85% is still better than most. When Godwin gets fully comfortable and, hopefully he will, then lookout! Anyone questioning taking Egbuka at 19 will be pleasantly surprised. Our offense is going to be tough to defend.
June 29th, 2025 at 9:08 am
I think as a rookie going in other teams will not be prepared for him. Once they get some film it might be easier but still, if he holds true, will be a consistent pass catcher. I’m anxious to see how he does in live game situations. I think he wins the majority of his routes and as you say Joe creates mismatches for Evans and the rest of the group. Can you see the WR’s clearing out the underneath and any of our RB’s catching the ball in space with room to run and make people miss? This could be really really fun to watch this year.
June 29th, 2025 at 9:09 am
And I’m not a huge fan of the jet sweeps but Godwin made them all look good. If EE can do the same then fantastic.
June 29th, 2025 at 10:00 am
Keep Jaelon MacMillan away from jet sweeps.
June 29th, 2025 at 10:26 am
Looking forward to the 4 WR set ….Bucky will be wide a$$ open…
June 29th, 2025 at 10:53 am
This is probably the best pick Jason has made( outside of ME and Wirfs). I love everything about the kid, he has great hands, run great routes, he gets separation, not afraid to get dirty, an excellent blocker etc. He’s well rounded, always looking to improve, never get complacent. He’s played with great Receivers at Ohio State, and put up good numbers. He can play inside or outside. And he doesn’t have a history of injuries.
June 29th, 2025 at 11:04 am
Seems everyone is forgetting Jalen McMillan. He had a helluva rookie year. When Godwin comes back the WR room is gonna be overflowing with superfluous greatness. #shouldawentdefenseround1.
I know, it’s over and done, and by all indications Egbuka will be great. But the offense vs defense pick still lingers, at least with me.
June 29th, 2025 at 11:40 am
Based on snap counts from last year, we are going to see a lot of Egbuka even if Godwin is back for game 1.
Snap count prediction without Godwin:
Evans 80%
McMillan 80%
Egbuka 80%
Snap count with Godwin:
Evans 70%
Godwin 70%
McMillan 70%
Egbuka 70%
Egbuka will lead to being able to keep Chris and Mike fresh, and I think we will play more 11 personnel, which would lead to about an even split in playing time between our top 4.
June 29th, 2025 at 12:14 pm
It’s just amazing when you think about it! Talk about an embarrassment of riches for Grizz and Baker and the Bucs O.
It’s not just the potential number of “#1” WR’s on the field at the same time with three, it’s rest of the lineup…JMac is still growing! Otton is coming into his own only to be challenged by Culp and Durham who also both have great hands and Culp’s speed at TE is intriguiging. Plug in 3 starting level RB’s, one of them truly special in Bucky with two solid backups in RW and Sean…the OL is young, and now experienced as a unit.
Hard to compare these guys against a unit that featured Brady and Gronk but this year’s Bucs could be truly special….COULD BE!!!
June 29th, 2025 at 1:13 pm
how do you stop a 4 receiver set of ME13, CG14, mcmillan and the egg-man…
and with bucky or rachaad floating around and in the mix…
how do you stop that…?
June 29th, 2025 at 1:29 pm
I’m not drinking the Kool-aid on any rookie until I see how he does when the real bullets fly.