Too Early For “Offensive Rookie Of The Year” Chatter?
September 11th, 2025
Trusting the rookie.
Bucs rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka had a very nice first game. Not only did catch two touchdown passes, but he also battled the lights and called his own shot to catch the game-winning pass.
But pimping Egbuka for “Offensive Rookie of the Year” after just one game? That’s a bit premature, isn’t it?
One veteran NFL reporter doesn’t think so. Long-time Bears beat guy and currently on the NFL beat with The Athletic, Dan Pompei, believes Egbuka is a legitimate candidate.
The Bucs’ Emeka Egbuka was picked 19th, but he could be the offensive rookie of the year. It’s unusual for a rookie wide receiver to look like a veteran, but that’s what Egbuka did in his two-touchdown performance against the Atlanta Falcons on the road. The fact Baker Mayfield had no hesitation to go to him with the game on the line and 59 seconds left spoke volumes. In a game with Mike Evans, Drake London and Kyle Pitts, Egbuka was the most productive receiver on the field.
Joe thinks Pompei made one helluva point. It’s crunch time. The clock showed 1:18 left. The Bucs needed a touchdown to control the game.
And of all players Baker Mayfield trusted, with Mike Evans on the field, Mayfield decides to target a rookie in his first game.
For a quarterback to trust a rookie at that point, he has to have street cred with Mayfield given the other options on the field.
Not one person would have blinked an eye if Mayfield instead targeted Evans. The way Pro Bowl safety Jessie Bates broke on that play when Evans came out of his break, he sure thought Mayfield was targeting Evans.
That says a lot about a rookie that his veteran quarterback would trust him (in tight coverage) in such a clutch moment.
September 11th, 2025 at 5:51 am
Never too early!
The scenario played out perfectly. And Mike was right there giving kudos to Buka. Awesome teamwork.
September 11th, 2025 at 5:56 am
Umm Not to me. Clutch and a rookie? Calling his shot? Wow!
But of course…Tampa… So probably not gnna happen even if it should.
Go Bucs!
September 11th, 2025 at 7:36 am
Nope, that’s goals.
September 11th, 2025 at 8:06 am
Too Late with the knowledge that EE was going to start on Day One and get a lot of single coverage.
September 11th, 2025 at 8:20 am
Game 1, let’s just worry about game 2, nothing else matters not last week not next week and especially not a reward 6 months from now
September 11th, 2025 at 8:32 am
Of course, he’s a legitimate candidate. He’s a rookie first round draft pick. That had a very nice first game. But obviously the next 16 weeks will have something to do with it as well. Can’t remember the last time we had an offensive roy candidate. Maybe Cadillac?
September 11th, 2025 at 8:41 am
JW was ROY in 2015 and Warrick Dunn in 98′.
September 11th, 2025 at 8:41 am
Mekatron. The Egbuka Bazooka. Whatever you call him, Emeka will wreck ya.
September 11th, 2025 at 10:05 am
WAY to early! After one game? He’s in the running, but can we wait a few weeks before the crowning ceremony?
September 11th, 2025 at 11:14 am
Whoa, rein it in! First, there are 16 more games. EE2 deserves his first round status, but let’s get him through the season in one piece.
September 11th, 2025 at 11:22 am
What Steven007 just said!
September 11th, 2025 at 11:29 am
Yes. It was one game.
September 11th, 2025 at 11:32 am
Steven007
I think Doug Martin was a finalist for the award in 2012, but I could be remembering wrong.
Of all the talented rookie WRs out there, none of them are lining up with a double coverage decoy like Mike Evans. If you go back and watch either score, pay attention to Evans, who’s paying attention to him and how it opened up Egbukas’ route. It was beautiful.
September 11th, 2025 at 12:35 pm
Sooo!!!when Godwin comes back and it is the line up of HOF Mike Evans, All-Pro Chris Godwin and ROY Emeka Egbuka and you have Bucky or Rachaad that can catch out of the backfield who do double cover!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA I am SSSSSSoooooooo F-ing Giddy right now!!!!!
September 11th, 2025 at 2:01 pm
Jesus…. Really?