Jason Licht, Baker Mayfield Talk Ben “Chewks” Chukwuma
December 9th, 2025
The Bucs’ starting left tackle on Sunday was no Charlie Heck.
Of course, the Bucs have shown no desire to play backup Heck at left tackle.
Starting for injured All-Pro Tristan Wirfs was undrafted rookie Ben Chukwuma, who has been with the team since the spring. Chukwuma is a beast of a man. The Bucs have him listed at 6-6, 310 pounds and he’s a fit dude.
Joe has to applaud the rookie. He played solid ball in his first significant NFL offensive line action.
Chukwuma avoided all presnap penalities and only was flagged for being ineligible downfield on an incomplete pass, a five-yard loss. Baker Mayfield had plenty of time to throw (Joe cried looking at Mayfield’s poor completion rate when not under pressure) and Chukwuma was sound against a halfway decent Saints pass rush.
“I thought he did a great job … For his first real NFL snaps, I thought he did a really, really good job. He was locked in, no presnap penalties, none of that. That’s kind of what you look to eliminate when it’s your first start. And he did all that well.”
At One Buc Palace, Chukwuma is known as “Chewks.” Before Sunday’s game, Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht told the team radio network that “Chewks” is one of the greatest raw offensive line talents ever to play for the Bucs.
Licht said there was a Sunday “plan B” in place in case the rookie struggled.
It never came to that. Chukwuma played every snap. That’s valuable experience in case the Bucs need him again down the stretch or into the postseason.
December 9th, 2025 at 2:20 pm
Chuckwuma & Chase only Bucs who performed well
December 9th, 2025 at 2:26 pm
He was a basketball and soccer player!
He has some of the quickest feet I’ve ever seen!
I saw him do a slide, like a basketball slide on Chase Young, he was so quick!
I mean basketball quick!
And he was a soccer player in Nigeria until aged 17!
Do you know who else was a soccer player? Suh!
I watched him all game. I was really blown away.
Even his face.
There was one shot of his face, he was locked in and ferocious!
I mean Nigerian Ferocious!
And he’s smart as hell. He has a MA degree in cyber security.
After Wirfs comes back, he needs to play LG.
He is a beast. And he can pull because he is FAST.
I am so happy with Chewks!
December 9th, 2025 at 2:27 pm
Happy for him. To heck with Heck.
December 9th, 2025 at 2:34 pm
CRAZY THOUGHT
Wirfs is considered the best OT in the league (the 2nd most important position).
Wirfs may be on the backside of his career. Savvy GMs “Trade a player a year early, rather than a year too late.”
If the Bucs go into a rebuild, do they explore trading Wirfs (if Chewks can play LT)?
PLAY GM …
Would you do a Micah Parsons-like trade for Wirfs?
2x1st, a player, and free up $36M in Cap Space
December 9th, 2025 at 2:42 pm
Glad to know Chewks graded out well. I am hearing that Wirfs will be playing against the Falcons? Is Chewks able to back up any other O line positions if needed?
Go Bucs !! Beat the Dirty Birds !!
December 9th, 2025 at 2:42 pm
I’d like to know when Jason Licht is speaking…does he do a press conference? I’m sure if he does, the questions are scripted or limited in topics. I’m over all the Bowles pressers. I’d like to have JL at the podium.
December 9th, 2025 at 2:43 pm
@slypirate it’s something to think about 2 firsts for Wirfs but only if we hit rebuild
December 9th, 2025 at 2:44 pm
“Wirfs may be on the backside of his career”? Not likely SlyP, maybe in 10 yrs though.
December 9th, 2025 at 2:44 pm
Chukwuma looked good at LT….i think he’d look even better with wirfs next to him..
Chukwuma-LT
Wirfs-LG
Barton-C
MJ-RG
Luke-RT
GO BUCS!!!!
December 9th, 2025 at 2:51 pm
Chukwuma needs to start at LG.
We need to keep him on the field.
And tbh.
I think Wirfs would make the ideal LG.
And slide Chukwuma to LT.
Wirfs is huge. He can move DTs and NTs.
I honestly think we should try Wirfs at LG right away.
We want to run the ball right?
Wirfs at LG.
Chukwuma and his soccer fast feet at LT.
And start Tucker at RB.
And Deion Jones at LB to cover the middle of the field.
We stuck with Britt too long last year.
We’re making the same mistake with SVD this year.
And I want JPP to replace Logan Hall at DE.
And let JPP rush from the DT position on 3rd. Like Kancey.
December 9th, 2025 at 2:58 pm
2025’s UDFA gem, but with the way some of you kooks talk about Licht because we’re losing, he can’t see talent with a telescope. The type of takes low emotional intelligence makes you resort to
December 9th, 2025 at 3:08 pm
Hopefully he can play LG!
If he can, and Wirfs is back Thursday… no excuse for Baker. If Evans and JMac are in, he’s got weapons back, he’s got good protection… start delivering the ball on time and accurately.
I guess his excuse may be playing injured but he hasn’t been good. Coaching has been bad, execution has been bad, Baker and the WRs have been bad… JPP better be a miracle worker cause it’s getting late in the game to turn all this poor coaching and play around.
December 9th, 2025 at 3:10 pm
Yup. Usually three, maybe four a year.
1. Combine
2. Pre-draft.
3. After the first round of the draft.
4. Maybe some time during training camp.
December 9th, 2025 at 3:53 pm
@SlyPirate…take it easy on Wirfs being on the downside of his career…fortunately lineman aren’t like running backs, if Wirfs stays healthy, he could be an asset for several more years to come.
The smart play is to eventually work this kid at Guard as well. Make him versatile so that he stays on the field. I don’t see lock at any of our Guard positions, especially since both our starters are injured. Mauch wasn’t crushing it when he was in there.
December 9th, 2025 at 4:22 pm
“Chewks” loving it! Rooting for him too.
December 9th, 2025 at 4:37 pm
Give’em Hell Chewks. We arew all rooting for you.
December 9th, 2025 at 5:20 pm
I was excited to see him in there. I didn’t see any reason to not play him at guard if wirfs is back next week. Smart, athletic, strong and tough. Let’s see if he can handle the rest of the year at that spot.
Regarding JL press conferences:
I would think that he would address the media in January if there’s a HC vacancy. More than think….i would hope.
December 9th, 2025 at 5:55 pm
Fire Todd
December 9th, 2025 at 6:07 pm
Dude seems like a beast…. We’ve got Olinemen. We just can’t seem to put them in the right place or keep them there.
December 9th, 2025 at 7:11 pm
Chewbacca looked good in the preseason, while Heck looked middling at best, and that was vs backups. I think a lot of people who watched Chewbacca had a good feeling about him. But, for those saying why didn’t he play instead of Heck – well, yes, at LT that’s a legit question, but plugging in Chewbacca at RT was extremely risky, in large part because he’s a developmental guy and I think the Bucs were mostly focused on getting him ready to play LT and not moving him around.
In any case, it was good to see him perform well. At the same time, lets not see him ever again at LT — because I want Wirfs out there.
Also, if history tells us anything, this offseason Chewbacca will get a lot of reps at RT and they will want him to turn into a swing tackle. But this year might be too soon for that role for a young dev guy.