Emeka Egbuka: “It Was A Very Tiresome, Long Season”
February 5th, 2026
Buccaneers stud rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka made his way to Super Bowl’s Radio Row today in San Francisco.
Coming off a 63-catch, 938-yard season, Egubka can hold his head high, even though he was part of an epic Bucs collapse.
Ebuka talked about how cool it’s been seeing so many NFL greats walking around today, and he was pimping for a bed manufacturer as he sat down with SiriusXM NFL Radio.
Egbuka said Mike Evans and Chris Godwin advised him that sleep is No. 1 for and taking care of your body. But more important, Egbuka noted how he’s still learning from Godwin and Evans in the offseason, specifically when it comes to season recovery and pacing preparation for 2026.
Overall, Egbuka said he gained a ton of confidence last season and is fired up for his Year 2. He credited teammates but noted how much unseen education he’s gotten from Baker Mayfield. Egbuka painted a picture of constant detailed Mayfield coaching in practice.
And he loves Mayfield on game days, too.
“Baker’s personality just makes you want to run through a brick wall whenver you’re getting ready to play the game,” Egbuka said.
Joe appreciated how candid Egbuka was about hitting a rookie wall and the physical challenge of his rookie season. He noted how he played a 16-game college season as a national champion followed by prep for the NFL Scouting Combine, spring and summer with the Bucs and then playing 95 percent of the snaps early in the season.
“It was a very tiresome long season but I learned a lot of great lessons from it and I’m very grateful for it,” Egbuka said.
One upside, Egbuka said, is he feels he’s learned everything he needs to know about his body to be prepared for 2026.
Ira Kaufman Talks Jay Glazer Comments, “Lukewarm” Jason Licht, Splash Moves, Super Bowl Pick & More
February 5th, 2026 at 4:45 pm
Great kid. Will be an all pro!. Love the candor.
February 5th, 2026 at 4:47 pm
He’ll get his stamina and conditioning up to par this offseason. No doubt he’ll work hard to do so.
February 5th, 2026 at 4:49 pm
I love Egbuka an Him Godwin McMillan an Tez will Take this offense into glory when Evans Retires
February 5th, 2026 at 4:58 pm
Initially has some questions, but another solid pick by Licht.
February 5th, 2026 at 5:09 pm
His humbleness stems from his lifestyle of faith, Jesus’s teachings, and God’s will. God bless you and your family, Emeka.
February 5th, 2026 at 5:18 pm
I thought that story of him hitting rookie wall was overblown. I thought he drop off was due to his hamstring injury.
February 5th, 2026 at 5:22 pm
Chris, iMac and Double E are the same receiver.
They get open when Evans get double teamed or when he
attracts extra attention from the defense.
February 5th, 2026 at 5:42 pm
Going from 12 games a year to 17 games, combined with the offseason training these guys do to prepare for the draft is a big change. It’s no wonder so many of them hit a rookie wall about 2/3 of the way in.
February 5th, 2026 at 5:44 pm
Lots to like about this young man
February 5th, 2026 at 5:52 pm
Mike had VJax, now Egbuka has Mike & Chris.
That’s kind of wild.
February 5th, 2026 at 6:00 pm
Now beef up this oline and oline bench so Baker has time. And get some sort of a defense so we can get the ball back instead of you know, not forcing a punt in a playoff game. Gosh our defense is and has been terrible. It’s a Bucs life.
February 5th, 2026 at 6:12 pm
Great kid.
Hope Zac gets creative with him, along with the rest of our WRs.
I predict we’ll see him in the backfield next year early on – like JSN in Seattle. Like to see Godwin do the same. It’ll be the next offensive trend…. That’s my prediction
February 5th, 2026 at 6:37 pm
Trials and tribulations.
This kid is gonna go off JSN style.
February 5th, 2026 at 6:55 pm
Great guy ,but what do you expect if you use a first round pick on a receiver, instead of what we really needed?
February 5th, 2026 at 7:17 pm
He needs to speak with Oneilbuc and Munch so they can straighten him out about Baker Mayfield. He is a rookie so he does not know what he is talking about, right you two duo duds.
February 5th, 2026 at 7:22 pm
Really excited for both ee and jmac to have a potentially expanded role. I’ve like what I’ve seen from these guys hopefully they can develop some consistency
February 5th, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Egbuka is learning from Evans and Godwin the Tom Brady health regime for success in the NFL.
SHARING the TB health for success formula is exactly 💯 what the Doctor ordered.
February 5th, 2026 at 7:45 pm
Other than Evans, we have a team stacked with #2 receivers and a few #3s. The offense is entirely dependent upon Evans playing and has been since he joined the team.
I’m not confident the team can thrive without Evans, although I guess it would make it hard deciding who to double when you have three or four of the same really good receiver on the field.
It’s not the year for it (Lord please let this be an almost exclusively defense draft and free agent year), but the Bucs will need a big receiver that can catch the majority of 50/50 balls in the very near future. I still think Culp could be molded into that guy, but that’s another story. A bruiser short yardage back is also sorely needed – even moreso than an upgrade at tight end.
February 5th, 2026 at 8:44 pm
Needs to work on his drops
February 5th, 2026 at 8:48 pm
Get used to it Eggy! Thats how Bowles rolls!!
February 5th, 2026 at 9:33 pm
It was a long season for the fans too. Especially the last 9 weeks.
February 5th, 2026 at 9:38 pm
As good as he was, kid from Carolina was better and was Offensive ROY.
February 5th, 2026 at 9:53 pm
And long gone before we drafted.
February 5th, 2026 at 11:28 pm
Not a bad year for a WR3
February 6th, 2026 at 2:48 am
Thanks Joe.
I have heard this rookie wall is a real thing and now to hear it from someone like Buka? It answers any concerns I had about his rookie season. Baker and others? Jury is still out.
If Baker was playing that hurt then it is the second time in his career that he should not have been playing. The problem for us is that we had zip behind him.
I admit that I am a Trask fan but we did need a dude who could win a couple of starts last year. Bridgewater obviously was not that dude. So now what? Baker is not likely to suddenly start taking fewer chances with his body.
Go Bucs!
February 6th, 2026 at 5:21 am
All I have to say about that is “Yeah it was”…..
February 6th, 2026 at 7:49 am
EE and others did pretty well against the Superbowl Seahawks without Evans on the field. Not saying I dont want ME back next year, but this narrative that everyone else is a number 3 WR is ridiculous. EE had a great rookie year even while playing thru injuries.
I was hoping for defense as well with our first round pick, but which player would have been a better pick than EE last year? Do tell
February 6th, 2026 at 8:36 am
JSN rookie stats 63 rec 624 yards 4 TDs
EE rookie stars 63 rec 934 yards 6 TDs
Everyone thought JSN would be a nice 2/3 WR with DK and Lockett. Seahawks let Lockett go and traded DK.
JSN wins offensive player of the year.
Point is, labeling someone after their rookie year is ridiculous. EE has everything needed to be a true number 1 WR. Add in JMac, Tez, Gowdin and hopefully an upgrade at TE and this offense should be just fine as long as Baker gives more of the good Baker than the bad.
Now about that defense…
February 6th, 2026 at 9:08 am
Egbuka’s rookie wall cost him Offensive Rookie of the Year honors unfortunately. That’s OK. Odell Beckham Jr. won it his rookie year over Mike Evans. Where is OBJ now? Last I heard he was complaining about making too much money or something.