Emeka Egbuka And Being A No. 1 Receiver
June 7th, 2026
Adjustment complete?
Now this is an interesting angle Joe had never thought of while spending hours scanning websites trying to find a clue why Emeka Egbuka was hot as a firecracker on the Fourth of July in the first half of the season and cold as Arctic ice in December and January.
Not since high school was Egbuka asked to be the go-to guy in a passing attack.
Jared Dubin of CBS Sports listed the biggest questions for players entering the second year in the league. For Egbuka, Dubin asked if the Bucs’ budding star can be a No. 1 receiver.
Egbuka got off to a scorching start, catching 25 passes for 445 yards and five touchdowns in his first five games. Over his final 12 games, he caught “just” 38 balls for 493 yards and one score.
He’ll be counted on as Baker Mayfield’s top target this year with Mike Evans decamping for San Francisco. He wasn’t ever the top target at Ohio State. Can he be one in the pros?
That’s a helluva point. As talented as Egbuka is, he was the No. 2 guy at Ohio State. That just shows how filthy loaded Ohio State’s wide receiver room was when USF head coach Brian Hartline was the offensive coordinator in Columbus.
A reason Joe thought prior to Egbuka getting drafted that he would be a nice pickup for the Bucs is Egbuka to Joe was (and is) a Chris Godwin clone. As good as Godwin is, he’s never been the Bucs’ No. 1 receiver.
So last year when Mike Evans and Godwin were both hurt, Egbuka was asked to be someone he hadn’t been since high school: top dog. And he had to learn this in the NFL. As a rookie.
Joe thinks Egbuka will be able to pull this off. But it’s still a helluva point by Dublin and shows what a massive adjustment Egbuka had on the fly.
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June 7th, 2026 at 12:26 am
Ya’ll about to find how weak our WR’s are without Evans.
June 7th, 2026 at 1:13 am
4-8 the last 2 years without him.EE is cool.He just needs a QB. Look at Godwin in 2023, DJ Moore in Carolina in 2022. Look at Odell Beckham in Cleveland. Look at Austin Hooper. Stud in Atlanta, went up to Cleveland and looked like a bum. Started in last year SB. Baker had that effect on receivers. Mike Evans was so good not even Baker could stop him..
June 7th, 2026 at 1:39 am
Unlike the adage about having two quarterbacks, having more than one good receiver is a good thing. As the NFL has become more about passing, we’re seeing successful teams have fewer standout receivers that dominate from season to season. The Chiefs and Patriots come to mind. We shall see with EE. Defenses can choose to take away certain positions, daring an offense to beat them in other ways. That’s why having at least four receivers, two tight ends and backs that can catch bodes well for the Bucs attack. Score the points and hope the defense comes back to a semblance of respectful play. That’s what I’m hoping to see this year from the Bucs.
June 7th, 2026 at 4:35 am
Like when the Buccaneers picked up Harper from the Cowboys and tried to make him the #1 WR? A great #2 doesn’t necessarily make a great #1.
June 7th, 2026 at 4:41 am
I’m just not sold on Ebuka. I’m not. He’s NOT Chris Godwin.
At BEST, he’s so far just a “flash in the pan”. THAT’S what’s REAL! I’m DONE with this TIRED “rookie wall” EXCUSE! BULL! You either HAVE WHAT IT TAKES OR YOU DON’T! “COACHES” DETERMINE WHAT SUCCESS OR FAILURES ARE COMING. AND WE AIN’T GOT THE BEEF THERE! A WELL KNOWN GUARANTEE! Like Mike Evans, YOU HAVE TO RISE ABOVE LOW END, UNSUCCESSFUL COACHES AND “BET ON YOURSELF” JUST LIKE MIKE, AND ONE DAY, YOU COULD BE IN THE HALL OF HUMAN FAME! Because if you’re waiting on someone to “make you”? Then that train WILL NEVER leave the station! THIS IS LIFE….
I get my BEST HOPES from McMillian. Poor Godwins going to eventually break. Ebucka…. flash in the pan/ can’t count on.. Tez? Come on man… Hurst? Another kid who looks just lost. Do I really need to go on telling truths about a VERY TENTATIVE receiving room “AT BEST” AND THAT’S SUPPOSED TO BE ONE OF OUR STRENGTHS?
SURE…. if you say so, but I won’t be following your logic. I’m going with what ACTUALLY HAPPENED and bet accordingly. Because it likely tells the future.
“Mc Millian”…. Keep your eyes on him. He WANTS IT! REALLY…! Ebucka… talks A Lot of hot air. Put it together kid and people might take you seriously!
June 7th, 2026 at 5:31 am
Not so Obvious!
June 7th, 2026 at 6:11 am
They stopped playing zone, started playing man, and we couldn’t overcome it. I’s watch the all-22, see 4 guys headed out, not getting separation, rinse and repeat
June 7th, 2026 at 6:55 am
Obivious, it’s obvious you are an idiot. No one has even seen Hurst practice and you say he is lost. Did you play pro football? Were you ever a rookie? You have no idea what the rookie wall is.
June 7th, 2026 at 6:58 am
He’s a #2, always has been, always will be. Godwin will be our #1, and even he’s a #2. We have no alpha. Hopefully, Hurst can develop. People are in for a rude awakening if they think he’s going to be a productive #1 receiver.
June 7th, 2026 at 6:58 am
We have a good young receiver room. They have a great receiver coach, and Zac will install a better offense then Griz. Ted Hurst won’t just become known to us, but to the league. He’s going to be that good. Better for us now than Evans would’ve been moving forward. EE doesn’t have to do it all himself. Watch teams game plan for him early, only to get torched by J Mac, Tez, Chris, and Ted. Than there’s Gainwell to account for in the passing game. Gainwell, by the way, is our new starting back. No way Bucky will be ready, and even if he is, Gainwell is better. This offense is loaded, health is the only thing stopping it.
June 7th, 2026 at 7:02 am
I did forget about McMillan. I like him. He could and should have a huge year.
June 7th, 2026 at 7:28 am
Didn’t we determine his drop off was due to injury? You even did a story about his phone before and after week six.
Wtf?
June 7th, 2026 at 7:29 am
Spell check got me….
His mph.
June 7th, 2026 at 7:31 am
The Bucs receivers are very very good. They are probably in the top ten and as they assimilate into Robinson’s scheme they will be a top 5 receiving core. The Bucs had so many injuries last year that took them out of contending.
June 7th, 2026 at 8:57 am
Our WR room is fine. Godwin will be Godwin. Either Mec and Jmac will be number 1 or 1a. 😊
June 7th, 2026 at 8:59 am
You could argue a healthy Chris Godwin in 2024 was the Bucs #1 WR in Liam Coen’s offense (until the unfortunate Ravens game)
He was the focal point and making the offense run. Not Mike that season. One could argue he was the #1 WR in the League that season through the first 7 games.
Chris Godwin’s first 7 games in 2024: 50 receptions on 62 targets for 576 yards
Mike Evan’s first 7 games in 2024: 26 receptions on 45 targets for 335 yards
June 7th, 2026 at 9:01 am
The receivers are more than adequate. Griz’ lack of scheme was directly responsible for a lot of the fall off the second half of the year. The hope is that Zac can be close to Coen in production. There is no proof this will be the result, but there is hope and he at least has experience. There would be no question if Coen was still around. With a healthy line, RBs and WRs, we certainly have a great chance at a considerable rebound back to near the top of the league on offense.
June 7th, 2026 at 9:38 am
I want more WR screens like with Coen.
Quick throws to Godwin and Egbuka (a former RB).
I loved our offense with Coen.
He made great calls at the right times at the right field position.
Coen is a damn genius. There’s no denying that.
We need 2 more guards if Brederson, Barton or Mauch go down.
If Barton goes down, Brederson will go to center.
But who will play LG?
Klein? Nope. Feeney. Please no. The rookie? Or Sua?
We really need to take our lack of depth at guard and outside CB more seriously.
June 7th, 2026 at 9:41 am
I would rather have three number twos than a number one.
June 7th, 2026 at 10:10 am
Injuries and the rookie wall.
June 7th, 2026 at 10:19 am
There are so many factors that go into Egbuka being successful before he even gets the ball in his hands. I believe that EE2 can be as good as JSN and both would be viable options on most NFL rosters. What you need is an OC that can put him in the best position and a QB that can get it to him more often than not.
127 Targets
63 catches
That gap needs to be closed this season, whether it’s cleaning up on drops or gettin balls in rhythm and on time.
June 7th, 2026 at 10:24 am
Egbuka is NOT a WR1. He never has been and never will be. Not a true WR1 anyway.
Hurst will be our WR1 once he gets ready (hopefully by Week 1).
Mek is good, but no WR on our team other than Hurst has the physical traits of a true WR1.
June 7th, 2026 at 10:27 am
In light of all the outspoken critics of our Buccaneers, it is amazing to me that nobody points out the obvious. Our offensive coordinator had no imagination, no experience, and no worthwhile game plans.
June 7th, 2026 at 10:27 am
Joe used to call our offense with Coen ‘Dink and Dunk’ as if that’s a bad thing.
But hindsight is 20/20 and obviously we’d like to see a Coen-esque offense here again.
Especially that run game, man that was a sight to behold.
June 7th, 2026 at 11:17 am
Hes Alvin Harper until he’s not. 5 good games is a maybe but evans played in those games. Wo Evans he wasn’t the guy
June 7th, 2026 at 11:38 am
1400 yards, 100 receptions and 8 tds are in the cards for sure.
June 7th, 2026 at 1:34 pm
Egbuka and Jaxon Smith-Njigba are the best of friends, work out together, have identical 40s and skill sets. I fully expect Egbuka’s career to follow an identical trajectory to JSN’s and sooner than later they will both be competing for #1 WR in the NFL. JSN just did it this past year. Flankers and slots have become just as important to the success of a team as traditional X receivers in today’s NFL. Don’t forget, Egbuka has the all-time RECEPTIONS record at Ohio State- not JSN.
June 7th, 2026 at 2:06 pm
The offense, if the OL stays healthy, will be good enough to win most games! The D is the big question mark!!! Like it has been the past several years! If they improve from near bottom to middle of the NFL Ds, the Buc’s will win their division. If not, then us fans are in for another sad season and, if that happens, then hopefully Bowles is gone and a better HC is brought in!!
June 7th, 2026 at 2:11 pm
Egbuka and Godwin are both slot guys and the comparisons end there. Godwin is physical, tough, strong blocker. Egbuka is finesse, does sneaky dirty work based on deception, and can’t traditionally block to save his life.
Neither are #1s and that’s ok but now our offense is relying a ton on Hurst to be a day 1 monster contributor on the outside.
June 7th, 2026 at 2:24 pm
Not a good look. Great point I remember he was balling out and who knows how many more games we win or a run we make in the playoffs if Godwin doesn’t go down. Godwin is the do it all guy. He gets dirty. He was deff coming out and doing number WR things before he got hurt in 24. Godwin and McMillan came on strong at the end of 25. 26 they will be better. EE will be better thro in trey , tez and hurst Bucs will be fine at WR.