Emeka Egbuka Really Isn’t Too Good To Be True
November 16th, 2025
Cerebral receiver.
Yet again, we have another piece of evidence that 40 times at the combine are a waste of time and electricity.
In an exhaustive, long yet very fun read from Tyler Dunne of GoLongTD.com, Bucs star rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka is featured. A lot of the stuff is well-known to Bucs fans.
Bucs fans know Egbuka is smarter than the average bear, was a stud baseball player, etc. But there is some new stuff in Dunne’s feature (at least new to Joe).
Joe often cites how dummies hung up on how Tez Johnson isn’t Usain Bolt and therefore was garbage as one of the biggest pieces of evidence that the 40 times at the combine are a worthless distraction.
Chris Godwin is yet another example.
Well, make room for Egbuka as another piece of evidence that it is how a guy plays football, on the field of play, not how he runs in an indoor track practice.
Egbuka’s perfectly fine time in the 40 (4.45) clouded real speed. Similar to what [Bucs assistant general manager Rob] McCartney witnessed as a young scout with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Slow in shorts (4.55), Hines Ward was rarely caught from behind on the field. Egbuka was a similar gamer. Egbuka could get open and catch the ball with ease.
Another interesting piece of intel Dunne dug up was how Egbuka appeared on the Bucs’ radar and some of the in-house scouting they did.
His tape sizzled all the way back to his sophomore season. In a 42-41 playoff loss to Georgia, Egbuka lit up a defense full of future NFL prospects for 112 yards and a TD. Ex-Bulldog and current-Buccaneer Tykee Smith recently brought that game up to McCartney. “Emeka killed us!” the safety said.
Other cool things Dunne discovered are that Egbuka has zero social media apps on his phone (he does have Instagram on his iPad at home).
Also, Egbuka went to Ohio State, even though he likely could have gone to top-shelf academic schools like Stanford or Northwestern. He chose Ohio State not just because it had an excellent business school, but, Egbuka reckoned, if he could make it with the Buckeyes with a totally loaded wide receiver room, he could play in the NFL.
Sharp guy, this Egbuka.
Boy, the Bucs would be screwed without him.
November 16th, 2025 at 12:33 am
He’s a 1st-Round WR. He’s doin what he’s supposed to be doin. I mean, isn’t it what ANYONE would expect, really!? He’s a nice player, who will have a nice long career in the NFL.
November 16th, 2025 at 12:38 am
In Dunne’s article, there are examples of, no, he’s not doing what was expected. He’s exceeded expectations.
November 16th, 2025 at 12:50 am
@Melvinjunior
There’s plenty of of 1st rd wrs that had high expectations and turned into busts, so it’s no guarantee. Egbuka is a 1st rd wr, yes, but he has been leaps and bounds better than what the Bucs and fans expected.
November 16th, 2025 at 1:52 am
I mean 4.4 40 is pretty darn fast, obviously fast enough to be a WR in the NFL. Joe’s long standing point (& Sapp’s) is so true, can’t get hung up on combine stats. It is a whole picture kinda scout really. He needs to have a good head on his shoulders, check, he needs to be a 4.4 guy, check, he needs to pop on film, check. Luckily Egbuka is far above and exceeding in the head on his shoulders category.
November 16th, 2025 at 2:30 am
“Joe often cites how dummies hung up on how Tez Johnson isn’t Usain Bolt and therefore was garbage as one of the biggest pieces of evidence on the Bucs that the 40 times at the combine are a worthless distraction.“
Joe grappling with the difference between quick and fast.
Tez Johnson, quick.
Trey Palmers and Scotty Millers
Not that difficult Joe lol
November 16th, 2025 at 4:38 am
I love how In these days 4.45 is slow🤣🤙🏾
November 16th, 2025 at 5:13 am
If the draft were held today? He’d be top 5. Look at what receivers are getting paid. It’s a passing league. His talent for years on a rookie deal are a home run.
November 16th, 2025 at 5:44 am
Ahh yes, the cerebral football player. Always a rare and special occurrence among the troglodytes that play in the NFL.
November 16th, 2025 at 6:01 am
Thank you for sharing the Dunne article. It was an awesome read. Emeka has it going, no social media and his app is chess. He was a child prodigy, but didn’t let it go to his head and had a plan. He shared a room with Evans and Godwin. Can’t get better than that. Hangs out with Baker and family. So much more to this kid that is impressive while he remains humble. So happy he is a Tampa Bay Buc!
November 16th, 2025 at 6:17 am
Know who else is a top shelf academic school? Notre Dame, but they actually know how to play football. Just once I’d love for them to flex their true power and resources – pay off some hood rats like SEC schools and annihilate everyone, just to let em know who really runs the sport. Conferences? Cute – don’t need em. But that’s ok, they’re getting close to winning it the good old fashioned ethical way. But anyhow, while 40 times are overrated – you don’t want a receiver running a 4.75 either. 4.55 works if it’s supported by strong game tape and the fact that his quick twitch and explosiveness is shown by a strong 3 cone, vert, and long jump. Telling you right now he does NOT get drafted with a weak 8ft long jump and a 28 inch vert. You are no athlete with those numbers. Those matter, shows burst. He has that in spades. Doesn’t mean I want him as the number 2 receiver though. Big body with measurables as a 1a X Receiver. Ebuka as 1A/1B Tez as the slot to me is his ceiling, that would be ideal.
November 16th, 2025 at 6:18 am
40 yard dash times are data points, nothing more. Actually they’re probably more useful for others positions. Any scout who starts and stops, see what i did there, with dash times should be made to watch Jerry Rice film. Hines Ward is another perfect example. There were many other reasons to not draft Tez Johnson. Reasons to not draft Brady and Purdy too. Glad our scouts use more tools than just measurable data. Too bad they missed on a certain Bama backer though.
November 16th, 2025 at 6:20 am
Jason Licht and Todd Bowles clearly knew what no one else did back in February.
That there was no way Chris would be ready for training camp, let alone the beginning of the season, because of his ankle injury.
I remember furrowing my brow and scratching the back of my head and saying “What the … ” when Emeka’s name was announced on draft night.
But Jason and Todd were right. And they totally nailed it with this pick.
I’d agree Emeka has exceeded expectations, even for a first rounder.
We haven’t always nailed it with our first round choices in recent years, but we did with this one. 🙂
November 16th, 2025 at 6:22 am
In the great wise words of the ancient philosopher Professor SShep, ” we got us one!”
Love EEs humility, level headedness and putting faith in the forefront. Hope he continues to shine on and off the field.
November 16th, 2025 at 7:11 am
I’ll always remember the Egbuka pick as one at least partially generated by one of our reporters here at JBF. When he was first ballyhooed as a Godwin clone. That’s enough to peak any football fans interest. I can see how that added to the research done into making such a move happen. Every pass this kid catches you’ve gotta give a little credit to our Joe. Take a bow, Joe. We real fans know the truth.
November 16th, 2025 at 7:42 am
We have this kid at $4.5 million/yr until 2030. You don’t get that with free agents
November 16th, 2025 at 7:44 am
EE2 is the Truth!
Jason dropped the mic!
Let’s go!!!!!!!
November 16th, 2025 at 8:14 am
Bucs need to draft another wide receiver in the first round this next draft.
Due to age and injuries – McMillan, Godwin, Evans and Shep are all giant question marks going forward.
ILB in round two.
November 16th, 2025 at 8:23 am
There are eighteen teams before the Bucs that wish they had taken EE2.
I agree with hodad that He would have been a top five in the draft
November 16th, 2025 at 8:29 am
should have looked for him at the end of the patriots game instead of cade
November 16th, 2025 at 8:39 am
The buckeyes are a Pro team. They could beat the last place nfl teams.
November 16th, 2025 at 8:47 am
Marine Buc Says:
Bucs need to draft another wide receiver in the first round this next draft.
Due to age and injuries – McMillan, Godwin, Evans and Shep are all giant question marks going forward.
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They won’t be drafting a WR in the first round next year. It’ll either be the next Devin White or another try at edge rusher. I almost don’t want them to draft an edge as badly as they keep getting it wrong there.
November 16th, 2025 at 8:50 am
Marky mark Says:
The buckeyes are a Pro team. They could beat the last place nfl teams.
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Don’t confuse the best college team as being good enough to beat a bad NFL team. A pro team can be bad but no NCAA team comes close to the talent even a bottom feeder in the NFL has.
November 16th, 2025 at 8:50 am
Mj, he could have thrown to Egbuka but we’d have left time on the clock. Maybe the offense was trying to be too cute. Backfired on us. On to the next!
November 16th, 2025 at 8:57 am
@ LouisFriend
They might be dumb enough to draft another ILB in round one but WR is a much more valuable position in today’s NFL and regardless of what the dunderheads say WR is absolutely a position of need in Tampa…
November 16th, 2025 at 9:29 am
Marine Buc Says:
@ LouisFriend
They might be dumb enough to draft another ILB in round one but WR is a much more valuable position in today’s NFL and regardless of what the dunderheads say WR is absolutely a position of need in Tampa…
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I’d have no problem drafting another WR if the right one is sitting on the board, but he’d have to be as special as Egbuka.
Going into the next offseason they’ll need a new TE1 if Otton is gone, OLB again, 2x ILB, RB if White leaves, a new WR2/3, a new DT with the aging Vea and unreliable Kancey, and depth at OL.
The hardest positions to find quality players from that set are OLB and DT. Possibly losing LVD and upgrading on Dennis makes ILB an urgency.
November 16th, 2025 at 9:39 am
@ LouisFriend
I agree with much of what you said – DT and OLB are definitely difficult positions to fill via the draft.
Knowing our GMs history we will probably re-sign most of our free agents and will probably over-pay for Vita Vea to return.
I’m not saying we don’t need ILBs but I believe we can find a decent one in round #2.
Don’t forget – LVD was a 2nd round pick…
Much of this will depend on who is available when the Bucs pick. More than likely the Bucs will be picking @ #20 or so again.
November 16th, 2025 at 9:58 am
Somebody mentioned Ohio State beating Bottom Feeder NFL teams. There was a game played between the College All Stars(the best of the best from all college teams) and the NFL champs. That game was played 41 times with the last game played in 1976. The All Stars beat the reigning NFL champs 9 times out of 41 games . Please understand that this charity game was the 1st action these pro players saw before the season, so they were not in game shape at all. If Ohio State played the Jets 5 times could they win 1? Maybe.
November 16th, 2025 at 10:03 am
Marine Buc, I couldn’t agree more. I was stoked when they took Egbuka at #19! Absolutely the right pick. I also agree with you on taking another WR with our 1st pick next year for the reasons you gave. Provided there’s not a ‘can’t miss’ D-lineman or generational LB. Remember we have David Walker who we drafted this year on IR who by all indications could be that stud already here. If we draft another stud receiver with the 1st pick and McMillan recovers fully, we’d be looking pretty dang good post Evans and Godwin for the future.
November 16th, 2025 at 10:04 am
Apparently, it is that difficult because there are tens of millions of dollars spent each year on this nonsense of a glorified indoor track practice with people hanging on every fraction of a number, yet it means — nothing (except, Joe is told, there is a connection between 40 times and offensive linemen).
Joe has typed it before and will type it again: If 40 times really equated to football play, every team would have an Olympic sprinter on the roster.
November 16th, 2025 at 10:14 am
@Marine Buc
That’s always the trouble when picking late is their board will be hard to predict. I’m more confident that Licht stays true to their rankings rather than reaching for need.
Next year’s draft does have a fairly deep pool of starter quality ILBs who fit the Bucs preference of game experience over projection. So 2nd round sounds about right unless they’ve got a 1st round ranking on one of them.
I’ll add I don’t think a team can ever have enough quality DL rostered. Especially the Bucs with how they’d prefer to rotate DL in and out.
As far as re-signings I don’t expect Otton back. He’s looking at a minimum $13M AAV payday and I can’t see Licht forking that over for him. Vea is in a contract year for 2026 so they might try to extend this offseason, but the big man is turning 31.
November 16th, 2025 at 12:03 pm
NOBODY drafts a WR in the 1st-Round and not EXPECT them to be an immediate impact player. He is doing EXACTLY what I expected. I watched at least ‘bits and pieces’ of probably, 30 of his games while at Ohio State. People really need to pump the breaks on anointing him one of the “Elite of the ELITE” WR’s in the league. He’s a solid to strong #1 right now, but I don’t see a ceiling of a Top-5 type WR in the league… And there are A LOT of people on here, really slurping the kool-aid. There are A LOT of nice receivers littered throughout the league… Several, in some not so good situations, with very poor QB play, & etc. Only a handful or so of special, elite of the elite. Being ‘in the conversation’ as a Top-10 WR (for a handful of seasons maybe) I believe is his ceiling. He’s doing what I expected him to do AND if healthy, would be expecting the exact same outta JMac.
November 16th, 2025 at 12:09 pm
I don’t know about the first round of the draft but, I do expect us to get an ILB in the second third or maybe even the fourth round.
We have an excellent scouting department. Don’t know why we can’t get it right with our search for an edge rusher.
Go Bucs!!
November 16th, 2025 at 12:12 pm
And, I really don’t see A LOT of 1st-Round busts at WR… At least not below picks 20 and being one of the TOP 2-3 WR’s in the draft. You might see a few who went to HORRIBLE situations, with BAD franchises (bad coaching and quarterback play). Maybe, a few who were drafted in the late late part of the 3rd-Round, where a team takes a ‘flier’ on a guy, either as a luxury, or out of necessity. But, most of ‘em are pretty damn good. In the 1st-Round.
November 16th, 2025 at 12:22 pm
Had he came out EARLY like JMac did, he would’ve been drafted right around where JMac was in that LOADED WR Draft-Class. Even, Urban Meyer (who might know a little something about Ohio State), said that he’d probably been a 4th-Round Pick had he decided to come-out early. Both, were in VERY similar situations. BOTH, struggled through ‘injury-prone’ seasons and BOTH were part of LOADED WR-rooms. EE decided to return to a SWEET NIL deal, and a NICE spot at Ohio State. JMac lost his head coach to Alabama, AND Washington’s NIL was nooowhere NEAR OSU’s. Especially, given that record payroll on last season’s national championship team. Everyone’s situation is different, but EE was smart to return to school, and wait for a very weak WR-class. He got healthy, had a great final season of college, and really improved his draft stock. Due to the Bucs injuries at WR over the past couple of seasons… All three ‘rookie’ WR’s have put up great numbers under Mayfield. JMac (during the second half of last season, when finally, fully healthy), and TEZ (since joining to rotation) and EE this season. EE has looked great! Like, a number-1 pick.
November 16th, 2025 at 1:34 pm
“Should be made to watch game tape of Jerry Rice and Tom Brady.” Ahh yes, the very most extreme exceptions to the norm to augment your argument, that outta do it….
November 16th, 2025 at 1:47 pm
Once again, read Dunne’s article. Egbuka has exceeded Bucs expectations. Dunne documents them. Coming straight from Bucs suits.
November 16th, 2025 at 4:17 pm
He’s on a milk carton today. Could have used him in this game.