Ben Solak: Emeka Egbuka Can Be Another Cooper Kupp
May 22nd, 2026
Good times coming for Emeka Egbuka, says popular NFL analyst.
Usually, if you mention Cooper Kupp to a Bucs fan, he/she will immediately fly into a rage, screaming for a new defensive coordinator.
Joe gets it. Cooper Kupp destroyed what would have been one of the most epic comebacks in Bucs history and likely kept the Bucs from returning to the Super Bowl for the 2021 season.
Kupp caught a 44-yard bomb in the final seconds of a divisional playoff game that set up a 30-yard Matt Gay game-winning field goal for the the Rams, the eventual Super Bowl champs as they knocked off defending champion Tampa Bay.
That is in the past for Joe. There’s not a damn thing anyone can do to change that. But Kupp was the best receiver in the game that season, though Kupp is clearly in the sunset of his career despite winning another Super Bowl ring last season.
Last week, Bucs offensive coordinator Zac Robinson compared Bucs receiver Emeka Egbuka to Kupp and said he plans to use Egbuka as a Z-receiver this fall.
This got Ben Solak excited. The NFL analyst for ESPN, Solak took to TikTok, armed with data and graphics, and explained Robinson is onto something very, very smart. Solak is a big believer in Egbuka and Solak argues if Robinson uses Egbuka the way he warned, Egbuka could very well be the next Kupp.
In other words, as Solak states below, the arrow is pointing up for Egbuka and the Bucs’ passing attack.
@benjaminsolak Emeka Egbuka to the moon #nfl #buccaneers ♬ original sound – Benjamin Solak
May 22nd, 2026 at 7:32 am
Hmmm. I guess in that they’re both deceptively fast, and can line up in slot, diverse route tree. Not saying comparisons need to be 100% analogous but Coopers short area quickness in his prime, and twichiness to get that extra yard or two is much better. Emeka is more of a smooth route runner, routes are super precise where as Cooper is much quicker in and out of breaks and after the catch. I like Emeka. A lot. But idk if hes a 1, then he’s a 1b – I just don’t know if he’s a true 1A Top 10 S-tier type of receiver talent. Our receiver room is good to very good. Which is not a bad thing. A talent like Hurst can really change the dynamic a bit if he can play anywhere near to his physical potential
May 22nd, 2026 at 7:32 am
Let’s hope he gets somewhere near that level. I believe he can be
May 22nd, 2026 at 8:25 am
If so, what will be Godwin’s role? Robinson has a lot of mouths to feed in the passing game. If this isn’t a top five offense, we will have underachieved!
May 22nd, 2026 at 8:29 am
I expect to see a dramatically different offence this year. Sounds like Robinson will know how to use Egbuka properly.
May 22nd, 2026 at 8:51 am
ATL – I get it. But…who cares at the same time. Not in regards to your opinion, but who cares in regards to people’s “feelings.” I believe in establishing a clear number one, either for the season or depending on the game- and whoever that is – you feed him. While everyone else should know their role. Just like in basketball. Luka, Steph, Jordan, etc etc need to be taking 70% of the shots. I ain’t trying to hear about everyone needing 7 catches for 110 yards and TD. Only so many possessions, only so many balls to go around. If McMillan or Godwin closes out a game with 2 catches for 19 yards then oh well, can’t please everyone
May 22nd, 2026 at 8:52 am
EE start to his career is very similar to JSN. He has the potential to a superstar and I think he will just gotta get more comfortable as the guy
May 22nd, 2026 at 9:23 am
Just by designating a player as 1a, 1b, 2, etc, you are prescribing to that old school prima Donna WR mentality. Exploit what a defense is giving and feed the hot hand. If you need all the light on you as a player, go play tennis. Football is a team sport.
May 22nd, 2026 at 9:32 am
WR3
May 22nd, 2026 at 10:00 am
ChiBuc nailed it.
I believe what makes this group of WRs special, other than their talent, is the fact that there are no divas.
One week Godwin night catch 10 balls, the next week Jmac and Emeka might explode.
There will be weeks when they run it 35 times and the targets are few and far between.
Who cares who’s “number 1”..the WRs certainly don’t care.
May 22nd, 2026 at 10:48 am
Kid has superstar abilities BUT Kupp had Goff,Stafford and Darnold throwing him the rock. Wrs magically decline up under Baker: young Beckham and Landry in Cleveland,Austin Hooper on Cleveland, DJ Moore they half a season in Carolina, Chris most of 2023 and EE the second half of 2025. Probably just a coincidence. But it’s like Mike instructed his agent to tell fans before free agency….the ” wr room” is very talented.
May 22nd, 2026 at 11:00 am
Chibuc – do you play with toy trucks or something? If you know what I mean. What a goofball take. We hand out capri suns, oranges and trophies to everyone ok. This isn’t socialism. In the real world there is hierarchy, and people are compensated accordingly based on talent Mr everyone gets a pat on the head idealist
May 22nd, 2026 at 11:03 am
Another Cooper Cupp?
Is he going to cost us a trip to back-to-back super bowls?
May 22nd, 2026 at 11:21 am
I’m not 100% sold on Zac. According to the Falcons NFLPA report, he had a C grade. Why?
May 22nd, 2026 at 11:39 am
One big difference, Kupp is an A hole off the field.
May 22nd, 2026 at 11:53 am
He could be another Cooper Kupp.
Based on the last 9 games, he could also be a flop.
Once the league got tape on him, they shut him down.
Can he improve?
Let’s hope so. We lost our Exceptional WR. We have a room full of “ pretty goods”
We are gonna need SOMEBODY to be above average.
Let’s hope EE can adjust.
Because he sure isn’t Cooper Kupp right now.
He’s a first year WR, that flashed in 8 games. And sucked in 9
May 22nd, 2026 at 12:27 pm
He sucked? You sure about that? Funny ppl was dying Chris lost a step in 2023 most of the season at 27 years old. Ppl thought DJ Moore sucked in Carolina. As they did Hooper and Landy in Cleveland in 2020&2021..They thought Odell did too then he joined the Rams mid season at 29 and suddenly looked revitalized and was HUGE for the SB champ Rams before tearing his ACL in the SB. Still had 50 yards in the first qtr. Idk, sounds like a pattern. You guys turned on Mike Evans for Baker now I guess your gonna throw Egbuka under the bus now too.
May 22nd, 2026 at 12:35 pm
@Hodad LOL, who cares what someone is off the field??, real FOOTBALL fanz don’t, so maybe you should stick to soap operas?, anyway I suppose you wouldn’t want to have 11 guys on defense who played with the talent, heart and smarts of Warren Sapp??, GTFOH!
May 22nd, 2026 at 12:36 pm
And Tez just sitting there for a reason to do another end zone backflip….. i loving our wr group!!!
May 22nd, 2026 at 12:49 pm
What about Chris Godwin? Chris Godwin is one of the best receivers in the NFL when healthy. I’m expecting a monster season out of Chris this upcoming season. 87 receptions for 1300 yards. Let’s Go Chris Godwin!!!
May 22nd, 2026 at 1:05 pm
In 2023 ppl were saying he lost a step and his wife complained about the offense and his role in it (sound familiar like OBJ dad🤔) and there where whiskers and even articles on this site saying he had lost a step. Look back at some old articles her and other places. 2023 was not a fun year either.
May 22nd, 2026 at 4:11 pm
Capt Tim. Go back, and watch the Rams game. EE beat his man like a drum, Baker throws late, and woefully short. What should’ve been an easy TD, almost turned into a pick. That’s on Baker, not EE. Baker’s play after the bye was a big reason EE didn’t get his first 1000 yard season. It’s no coincidence EE got worse when Baker did.