Jon Gruden: Emeka Egbuka Is “Top Of The Food Chain”
April 25th, 2025
Barstool Sports NFL analyst and Bucs Super Bowl-winning head coach Jon Gruden, aka Chucky.
Consider Jon Gruden stunned and intrigued.
Working the Barstool Sports live NFL Draft show last night, Gruden showered Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka with praise long before the Bucs drafted him at No. 19 overall. But with the Bucs on the clock, Chucky was adamant the Bucs needed to draft a stud edge rusher, or a least defensive players at other positions.
He was clear that edge rushers Mike Green (Marshall) or Donovan Ezeiruaku (Boston College) were picks that could “solve some problems” in the Tampa Bay defense.
And then came the Bucs’ drafting of Egbuka.
“Go through the history of the wide receiver position at Ohio State, this guy’s at the top of the food chain if statistics matter,” Chucky said. “Two back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. He can run all the routes you can draw up in the slot. He can line up on the outside. He’s a punt returner. He’s a great kid. He’s ready to roll. This guy’s been training like a pro.”
Chucky noted how Ohio State quarterback Will Howard was part of his pre-draft QB camp and couldn’t stop raving about Egbuka.
Lastly, Gruden seemed in disbelief by how difficult the Bucs offense is — and will now be to defend with Egbuka. Gruden is a huge Bucky Irving and Baker Mayfield guy, and he sees no holes in the Bucs’ attack.
April 25th, 2025 at 1:47 am
Jason Licht reminded us he’s human, once again. Stupid pick when you had so many defensive options. He’s a great GM but let’s not forget his awful selections in the past.
April 25th, 2025 at 1:47 am
Yeah, you have to admit that offensively we’re a Straight Up MONSTER! I mean come on…. How do you defend against us? We have “IT ALL”.
Now it still feels like a luxury pick considering I personally believe us to be seriously out of balance in our defense. No Doubt. BUT at the end of the day, the team with the Most Points WIN…. So there IS THAT!
April 25th, 2025 at 1:50 am
Btw, did you guys see Todd Bowles “waddling” back and forth once he stood up and walk a few steps? Ooof!
Looks like he put on ANOTHER 50lbs this winter… He IS NOT the picture of health!
April 25th, 2025 at 2:22 am
Genius move by the best GM in the NFL and in team history. He and the head coach both know the defensive coordinator hasn’t been able to coach anyone up in his last system, so better get on with scoring more points than your opponent while you start cooking the new scheme in the crockpot.
Let’s go!
April 25th, 2025 at 2:41 am
Doesn’t any one complaining see how defensive players have slid into the 2nd round? We will be good as long as day 2 is a full dose of defensive picks. I’ll wait to hear you guys complaining when one of our top 2 WRs hobble off mid-season. This pick gives Chris Godwin more time to heal instead of rushing back. I’m good with that.
April 25th, 2025 at 2:54 am
Complete Godwin clone.
Completely fine with pick.
April 25th, 2025 at 3:00 am
Rod Stewart Says:
April 25th, 2025 at 1:47 am
Jason Licht reminded us he’s human, once again. Stupid pick when you had so many defensive options. He’s a great GM but let’s not forget his awful selections in the past.
^^^^^^^^^^
Don’t you think it’s a little early to call it a “stupid pick”? Who would’ve you taken? Let’s see where your player is in 3 or 4 years.
April 25th, 2025 at 3:02 am
He’ a player.
Win some more after Evans and Godwin are gone.
Or are they?
April 25th, 2025 at 3:14 am
“You win by scoring more points than your opponent.”
There’s two sides to that record.
You win by holding your opponent to less points than you.
This was not Licht’s finest moment.
The Bucs had little trouble scoring points last year, even after Godwin went down, but all of us watched as time and time again this defense couldn’t stop anybody, especially when it counted.
So what does Licht do?
Spends 14 mil on an aging pass rusher with one sack last year and takes a receiver in Round 1.
I’m calling these moves a mistake, albeit a mistake where I sure hope I’m wrong.
Eagles defense mauled Mahomes in the Super Bowl. They must have been licking their chops after watching teams allow them to grab Campbell.
You win by holding your opponent to less points than you!!
April 25th, 2025 at 3:28 am
Our best players are inVARiably later rounds. We could have drafted Starks or the guy from Boston, clearly they have identified several who are equally as good, who will be available later
April 25th, 2025 at 4:34 am
I think I might be evil, my favorite part of the draft is to watch grown men cry over players picked for their team. Not just my own team either , I still remember how people hated the VV pick with D.James was on the board.
April 25th, 2025 at 4:45 am
I remember the “draft room” video from last year. As the Barton pick was announced, Licht was all excited. Bowles put an obligatory smile on his face, but it was the kind of smile you make when your friends are trying to cheer you up after getting served divorce papers. He obviously was wishing they had drafted for defense.
Can’t wait to see the look on his face after this one.
April 25th, 2025 at 5:15 am
JA, a short bus is waiting for you.
April 25th, 2025 at 5:37 am
wow , defenses win championships. Day 2 better be all about defense.
April 25th, 2025 at 5:48 am
I trust Jason. I deff see the reasons why we drafted a WR. The plan better be to put up 100 pts a game with the way our defense plays lol. Only time will tell if this was the right pick
April 25th, 2025 at 6:11 am
It’s an offensive league. Outside of Carter the rest of the edge rushers were all the same
Fans are getting to worked up about where players are chosen, rather than who is being chosen. We’ll get a corner, a DT, etc, we have 5 picks left. The draft is a cfap shoot after all. The 3rd round edge could very well turn out better than the 1st round edge. We drafted JTS in the first round, enough said.
April 25th, 2025 at 6:48 am
Sleeping on it I feel like the pic actually makes sense. I know it was a luxury of pics at 19. Wish we would have had a trading partner to trade back a few spots still grab Ebuka and get an extra early second.
All that being said so many good players that I thought we could pick a 19 are still available that I am pretty certain that we’ll get either a good Corner safety linebacker or address her in the second round and all will be right in the world again.
April 25th, 2025 at 7:21 am
Love this pick. All the reasons mentioned above—plus, we have a new offensive coordinator. Giving him another tool to succeed in his first year as well as insurance if Evans or Godwin goes down is a good thing, bc this team is going to continue to live or die by its offense for the short term. Team’s been lucky the last few years to have success with new and first time OCs but you can’t take it for granted. Remember last year when Otton was basically receiver 1 option for a short time? Licht will probably pick a bunch of defensive players that people will howl about too, but people are going to complain about anyone that’s not “their guy”
April 25th, 2025 at 7:22 am
I believe EE is the osu leader for catches and second for yards. Plus. He did that one year playing with sorry Kyle mccord at qb.
April 25th, 2025 at 7:30 am
Another BRILLIANT pick by Light! Godwin is likely to miss multiple games and Evans is now injury prone late in his career. This was the Bucs biggest need. And this WR is a stud. He will be the Bucs #2. Mark the tape. Godwin’s done. He should have never been retained.
April 25th, 2025 at 7:38 am
That is high praise indeed Joe!
Anyone who thinks Gruden does not know football has not been paying attention.
He is the dude who kicked Meshawn off the team remember…
Go Bucs!
April 25th, 2025 at 7:51 am
I knew folks were gonna lose it when Joe and others tarted hinting the Bucs may go BPA at 19. I think Jason stuck to his board. I believe if Grant was still there he would have been the pick and the same folks would be raising hell. LOL
Go Bucs!
April 25th, 2025 at 7:54 am
Gruden will shovel all kinds of zh!t just so he can play with the horses
April 25th, 2025 at 8:01 am
I did not like the pick on first blush. However, I am slightly buoyed by the fact that both guys Gruden mentioned (Green and Ez), as well as a few other defensive players that were being mocked to go in the 1st are still on the board. Let’s see how day 2 goes before grabbing the pitchforks.
April 25th, 2025 at 8:02 am
can someone please tell gruden to get lost. he’s a 1st class ass. no one listens to his opinions. MORON
April 25th, 2025 at 8:17 am
NLK, calm yourself.
April 25th, 2025 at 8:36 am
He’s a punt returner too? Wait a second! Is returning punts still allowed? I’m so confused. (The preceding comment was brought to you by sarcasm. Sarcasm. It’s what’s for breakfast.)
April 25th, 2025 at 8:39 am
Gruden won us a chip, he’s great by me.
Don’t be an “anti-football p” as Chucky would say.
April 25th, 2025 at 8:49 am
I am doing a 180 and proclaiming this a great pick. It may extend the careers of Evans and Godwin and I cannot wait to see some four wideout sets. Bsker could be MVP.
Lots of defenders left. DBs and linemen—stop the run, win the shootout!
April 25th, 2025 at 9:06 am
Great defenses are overrated
Ask the eagles…
Man they got a nice player
April 25th, 2025 at 9:46 am
Good player worth a #19 pick, just not by the Bucs this year.
Yes, the Bucs needed a receiver later in the draft. But, the Bucs could have taken a real cornerstone for the defense in Jihaad Campbell.
The bucks talked about taking ball hawks, and I would love to see them take ball hawk Safety Xavier Watts in the second round.
But, the best thing for the Bucs to do now might be to take Kancey-ish DT Darius Alexander. The best pressure is inside pressure.
With Kancey, Vea and Alexander bringing pressure up the middle, throwing lanes should disappear.
Reddick, Diaby, Nelson and company should benefit by adding clean up sacks.
Pass defenders should be able to press in man knowing that the ball is coming out in a hurry.
Third round should be ball hawk Safety Andrew Mukuba or ball hawk CB Nohl Williams.
Fourth round should be cover linebacker Jeffrey Bassa.
Fifth round and seventh round should be ball hawk DB’s if there are any.
That’s the best that I can hope for at the moment.
April 25th, 2025 at 10:23 am
Egbuka is a brilliant pick!
Especially considering the likelihood that Godwin will start the season on IR.
People are funny. Like we needed a backup edge rusher more than a starting slot receiver (for at least the 1st half of the season and the future)
April 25th, 2025 at 10:39 am
Don’t forget that 4 game slide without Evans…
April 25th, 2025 at 10:49 am
Gruden was lightning in a bottle for us for sure..
But he’s really morphed into a used car salesman.
April 25th, 2025 at 12:04 pm
Gruden is a a horrible analysis,look at his draft pics
April 25th, 2025 at 12:58 pm
Method to the madness Mike and Chris, the bread and butter of our Bucs offense. In a few years McMillan and Egbuka will be them two. With an over the top guy. I’ll be dead soon after that, so someone else will take my place. The Bucs ain’t about being a Jerry Jones throwing money around kinda team, for a little while now they’ve been making some awesome moves and the ride has been fun, thanks for the memories good and bad!!