ESPN Predicts Big Year For Emeka Egbuka
August 28th, 2025
Big year loading?
Barring injury, Joe thinks Emeka Egbuka will live up to the hype.
Mike Evans had one of his best training camps this summer. If it wasn’t his best, it was in the top two. Evans looked sensational.
And there is a reason Bucs types, including Baker Mayfield have been hyping up rookie receiver Egbuka. If not for Evans, Egbuka would have been the star of training camp.
(And Bucky Irving, too.)
Behind the scenes, Dan Graziano of ESPN has been hearing Bucs types rave about Egbuka. In fact, Graziano has heard so much pimping, Graziano decided to make a prediction:
Don’t be surprised if … rookie Emeka Egbuka is the Bucs’ leading receiver.
What I’m hearing: The team has been absolutely raving about first-round pick Egbuka throughout the summer, praising him as hyper-advanced for a rookie in all facets of his game. Chris Godwin, who is working his way back from a major season-ending ankle injury, is on a very uncertain timetable for returning to the field and an even more uncertain one for returning to his old self. Veteran Mike Evans’ next sub-1,000-yard season will be his first, but he is 32 and missed three games last season. And Jalen McMillan, last year’s rookie standout who caught seven touchdown passes in the final five games of the season, will miss the start of 2025 because of a neck injury.
If he’s everything we’re being told he is, Egbuka can play any of the wide receiver spots in the Tampa Bay offense, already has the trust of quarterback Baker Mayfield and appears in line for a massive share of the target opportunity on one of the league’s best offenses.
Yeah, as Graziano noted, with Jalen McMillan out, and who knows when Chris Godwin will return, and no defensive coordinator stupid enough to single-cover Mike Evans, Egbuka should get a bunch of targets because of how well he gets open.
Would it surprise Joe if Egbuka led the Bucs in receiving for 2025? No.
August 28th, 2025 at 9:18 am
This young man will be a joy to watch and I hope he stays healthy and has an amazing career. Excited to see him work his magic this season.
August 28th, 2025 at 9:21 am
LOVED seeing that little add on; (And Bucky Irving, too)
August 28th, 2025 at 9:23 am
From what I’m hearing and what I’ve seen in preseason, it wouldn’t surprise me either. Even little Tez looked tantalizing. Culp looks at least promising. Miller looks pretty good. Durham seems ok. If they double Evans all day they will pay.
August 28th, 2025 at 9:24 am
The first receiver I bid on and got for my fantasy time. Last player on my team was Tez, cost me 1 dollar. Like a penny stock.
August 28th, 2025 at 9:25 am
Oh, and Irving too. LOL
August 28th, 2025 at 9:40 am
Hated the pick on draft night, now I am lovin it since it was a bad move to re sign an injured Godwin and McMillan got hurt
Hope this kid lives up to the hype
August 28th, 2025 at 9:43 am
I really just want to see what it looks like with all 3 on the field at the same time. Evans, Godwin and Egbuka
August 28th, 2025 at 9:58 am
Did you guys hear that Trask was released? We should talk about that.
Felt like stirring the pot. My bad.
August 28th, 2025 at 10:21 am
I was hoping we’d at least take a look at Hendon Hooker, but he signed with the stinkin’ Panthers. No big deal I guess. I read that we signed an edge rusher from Miami named Mohamed Kamara. He’s 6’1″ and 251 (listed) and was a 5th round pick by the Fish last year. He’s a lot like that Walker kid who got hurt. Same height (short) but Walker is 261. Was crazy productive in school, but did little to impress Miami I guess. He was free. Get what you pay for.
August 28th, 2025 at 10:26 am
@smartwr than Joe, I was kinda shocked by the Egbuka pick too. I had no idea who he was. Looking better every day.
August 28th, 2025 at 11:27 am
Yeah this draft pick aged extremely well!
I hope Evans stays healthy and leads in yards though. Would love to see another 1500 yard and 13 TD campaign. Shut up all the dummies who disrespect Mike and his HoF case.
August 28th, 2025 at 11:41 am
Before the season, every team hypes their top draft pick to be a “SUPERSTAR”
Had to listen to the same hype about Kancey, Logan Hall, JTs.
Every team hypes their top pick.
Then the Season starts, and 95% of them become invisible.
Tough to be an NFL rookie.
Last year graham Barton deserved to hype.
I actually think Double E is gonna make a splash this year.
August 28th, 2025 at 12:08 pm
“Would it surprise Joe if Egbuka led the Bucs in receiving for 2025? No.”
———-
For sure. Hard to write a story about Egbuka and not mention the name Jason Licht.
Can’t wait to see this guy in action. Every reason to believe he’s going to hit the ground running. His potential is seemingly unlimited. This was a great pick by Licht. Liked the picked and the player right from the start. Not the position some were hoping for in the draft. I’m a big believer in drafting players high that touch the ball and can put points on the board. Every reason to believe that if this cat pans-out he will be one of the best players Licht has ever drafted.
August 28th, 2025 at 1:43 pm
It will be great to see him making plays out there! Very excited for the season to start! Go BUCS!
August 28th, 2025 at 1:48 pm
dude is built like a linebacker. he is going to TEAR UP the slot with godwin out.
rookie of the year with 1,000+ yards. calling it. good non-quarterback year for the award unless ward goes off in tennessee and I don’t think anyone is betting on that.
August 28th, 2025 at 1:51 pm
When’s Halloween? ME13’s hammy is healed, CG14 will be back, and EE9 (lucky number, BTW) will be the nightmare opposing DCs and refs fear. Can’t wait to listen to the game!! Go Bucs, and the Terror Trio!!!!
August 28th, 2025 at 2:06 pm
It’s a shame we lost JM for half the season. Now EE will have to be a stud from the very beginning of the season rather than letting him work into favorable situations
But maybe he prefers it and it will accelerate his growth.
August 28th, 2025 at 2:50 pm
Mike got his 1,000 yards in 14 games last season. If he can stay healthy for the whole season, the record his, and most likely another division title. I believe EE and Tez will both do great things while Chris heals up, and JMac will have fresh legs for the stretch run. I like 12 wins as a minimum with a little help from a couple of practice squad players. I’m just a fan since 1976, and this is just my opinion. GO BUCS
August 28th, 2025 at 3:02 pm
Slot receivers rack up lots of receptions, that’s what slot players do, it pads their stats – which is why guys like Amon-Ra St. Brown can rack up ridiculous numbers while not even being in the same conversation as Evans in terms of greatness.
Double-E, playing in the slot, will have a huge opening to the year, probably with multiple 100 yard games with 10+ receptions. But when Godwin is healthy, he’ll likely move back into the slot — although keep in mind Godwin’s best season ever was when he played outside in 2019, so it’s not out of the question that, if Double-E is ballin, that they ask Chris to go back outside, certainly while McMillan is on IR.