“What A Rookie!”
September 24th, 2025
Emeka Egbuka cooks Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner.
Brian Baldinger is sold.
The former NFL offensive lineman and current analyst for NFL Network likes to review film on Twitter. And it seems there’s a play from Sunday that Baldinger wants on a continuous loop.
That was the crazy one-handed catch by Bucs rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka.
The Bucs were high on Ebuka all through underwear football, training camp and the worthless preseason. And the Bucs weren’t clowning people. Egbuka is the real deal. Just like Baker Mayfield said. Just like Mike Evans said.
It seems Egbuka is one of Baldinger’s favorites.
“You just can’t say enough about Emeka Egbuka through three weeks right now,” Baldinger said. “These catches, this one-handed catch — can we bump this right to his resume reel right there?”
Baldinger loves Egbuka’s fundamentals.
“Watch him look this ball all the way in, secure it with his right hand,” Baldinger said. “Hold off Sauce Gardner, with his left hand.
“Man, that’s a pretty catch. Man, let’s just watch this over and over again.”
Last night, Joe’s good friend Sean Sullivan, the general manager of Bill Currie Ford shared a screenshot of PFF tribe stats. It seems Egbuka, in just his first three games, is already getting better separation from defenders than CeeDee Lamb, Terry McLaurin and Tee Higgins.
So yeah, Joe is beginning to think this is the beginning of something very special.
“What a rookie!” Baldinger proclaimed.
.@jets @Buccaneers @EgbukaEmeka continues to make great catches through 3 weeks; might wanna bump this to his resume' reel. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/NWuLMLLU1X
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) September 22, 2025
September 24th, 2025 at 6:15 am
Absolutely was the best player in the draft for the Bucs.
September 24th, 2025 at 6:16 am
It seems EE and Bake are on the same page. That pass was thrown where Sauce couldn’t touch it and EE could. EE and Bake trust each other.
When Godwin gets back, I can see Bucky ripping some long runs. Godwin and EE are very good downfield blockers on runs and the RB’s will eat.
September 24th, 2025 at 6:19 am
i thought Egbuka was from Washington:
“Smith-Njigba, Odunze, Egbuka – Africa’s wide receivers lighting up NFL sidelines”
September 24th, 2025 at 6:24 am
Baker on the mic saying to the rookie that he needs to use two hands. Classic.
September 24th, 2025 at 6:47 am
“the worthless preseason” Grrrrrrrrr..!!🤬
September 24th, 2025 at 7:26 am
Lt. Dan. Grrr…hahaha!!
September 24th, 2025 at 7:38 am
To bad the refs robbed him of his other great catch!
September 24th, 2025 at 7:46 am
EE2 is already playing at another level lol….
parrish deserves high praise too!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
September 24th, 2025 at 7:48 am
Bakers passes have been perfect, the one to EE on the left side on the game winning drive was awesome!!
September 24th, 2025 at 7:50 am
That is serious sh!t. So impressive. Not only holds off Sauce with his left hand, but Sauce prevented EE2 from using his left hand to finish securing the ball after the catch. EE2 brought it all the way into his body with one friggin hand!!
Ive only seen ME make catches like that. WOW
September 24th, 2025 at 7:54 am
Licht once again looks like a genius, without this guy we may be 0-3. I would really like to get Tez involved this week, he got some love from the commentators on his efforts blocking in Jets game. I think the kid deserves a shot, you have to reward high effort players and he’s a balller I don’t care that he’s 160 pounds the Eagles have a receiver the same size!
September 24th, 2025 at 8:15 am
EE2 should elevate the Buc’s for years to come! The Buc’s need a big game from him on Sunday!! LFG!
September 24th, 2025 at 8:26 am
The Buckeyes can beat some NFL teams.
September 24th, 2025 at 8:29 am
What’s even better about this kid is his maturity and attitude. Off the charts.
Licht and Co’s focus on attitude/character is paying off, too. I’m glad they’re not wasting picks on selfish headcases anymore (Winston, White, Sefarian-Jackass, Desaun Jackson).
I hope they continue avoiding the idiots. It’s obviously working.
September 24th, 2025 at 8:30 am
Everyone likes to give him the Chris Godwin comparisons — the more I see him, the more I compare him to Antonio Brown without all the head case issues.
September 24th, 2025 at 8:31 am
He will be someone that other teams have to plan for. Love to see the big three together!
September 24th, 2025 at 8:31 am
This season is a lesson that to have a successful draft you just draft good players regardless of position. Bucs had a stacked WR room and now suddenly Egbuka is no longer a luxury but a necessary and important part of the offense. Imagine where this offense would be if Sterling Shepherd was our number 1 WR the next few weeks. Depth at any position is never a bad thing to have
September 24th, 2025 at 8:41 am
Hindsight is 20/20, I’m glad Licht and Bowles have foresight.
September 24th, 2025 at 8:58 am
if he and godwin ever play in same game, o will explode. can’t cover both.
September 24th, 2025 at 10:07 am
EE should eat Sunday, Eagles down 2 starting outside corners!! Nice!! Go Bucs
September 24th, 2025 at 10:17 am
Bucs should sign CJ Gardner – Johnson. Bring him in on the practice squad.
September 24th, 2025 at 10:19 am
Looking at those PFF stats you linked in this article, Joe, if one only considers players with 100 or more receiving snaps, one can see that EE is 4th in the league at separation. I say 100 or more to toss out the part-time players who may be 3rd or 4th on the depth chart of their team.
What a rookie, indeed!
I’m excited to watch EE’s development over the next 14 games, and praying he doesn’t hit that dreaded “rookie wall.” I doubt it because his “mentals” are solid already, now we just have to see if he can handle the rigors of an NFL season physically.
September 24th, 2025 at 11:19 am
Well, Sauce almost hit EE2 in the facemask when he was making that catch. WOWSERS!!! I bet Licht and Bowles nearly fainted when the Bucs were called in the 1st round, and guess who was TBPA? I remember all the complaining when this dude was picked, and not a defensive guy. Good thing I know zilch about the Draft. EE2, CG14, and BigME13 on the field at the same time. That day is coming, folks. Hang on to your hats! Yeay, Bucs!!!
September 24th, 2025 at 12:32 pm
Hate wasting his pass coverage and pass rushing skills.
September 24th, 2025 at 1:15 pm
Key to the draft: Best Player Available. Why do people not want to believe this?
September 24th, 2025 at 1:17 pm
This guy is a equanimos st. Brown clone with Mike evans catching ability…definitely gonna be a household he is transforming before your eyes..just to think about how much faster he plays next year
September 24th, 2025 at 2:37 pm
My god, the plague is back: Aqualung.
September 24th, 2025 at 3:06 pm
The second Egbuka pic may have been more impressive than the one-hander. It was called a non-catch by the either corrupt, or blind referees, I’m not sure which.
CJ Gardner – Johnson will not be signed by us. Even if he’s decent, nobody wants that d!ck in our locker room.
September 24th, 2025 at 3:07 pm
Pic = catch
I’m pretty sure he’s a receiver and not a corner. LOL
September 24th, 2025 at 3:24 pm
buc4ever:”Bucs should sign CJ Gardner – Johnson. Bring him in on the practice squad”.
Did not realize he was available. Never liked him, but would if he were on the field for the Bucs, hahahaha. . .
September 24th, 2025 at 3:56 pm
Even those of us who liked the pick or were surprised by the pick but didn’t hate it, couldn’t have expected this.
Too many players from 1st rounders to Kenny Bell get hyped up and never show it in an actual game. Egbuka is awesome, his hype translated immediately to the NFL game and he has looked like a stud since his first snap. Home run pick.
McMillan in Carolina also looks good unfortunately haha.
September 24th, 2025 at 4:39 pm
Gonna be #1 so now he’s really gotta step his game up. 120 yards 2 tds against the Beagles.
1993Bucsfan Tez had a great shot but unfortunately Baker got a little aroused at such a wide open receiver he missed an easy long td
September 24th, 2025 at 6:08 pm
CeeDee Lamb is one of the most overrated WR in the league. Egbuka was a great great pick. Oh man I can’t believe people were dogging this pick! Jason and crew obviously saw something the other teams did not. Joe you say Egbuka wasn’t even the best WR from Ohio State? That may not be a true statement after watching Harrison JR. drop passes left and right