Emeka Egbuka Trade Worth
July 20th, 2026The gap must be bridged.
We are in the dead period of the NFL calendar a week away from the start of training camp. There is no shame in admitting it.
As a result, follicly-challenged Billy Barnwell of BSPN decided to gauge what sort of price could be fetched on the trade market for each team’s best players.
So, if Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht hit his head on something today and lost his mind, putting wide receiver Emeka Egbuka on the trade block, what would he get for Egbuka?
Barnwell believes Egbuka could bring in more than just a first-round pick.
It was a tale of two halves for the 19th pick of last year’s draft, as Egbuka had 101-, 115- and 163-yard games in the first half of the season, then failed to top 65 yards in any single contest over the final two months. Is Egbuka the guy who was on pace for a 1,288-yard season through Week 9 or the one who produced at a 555-yard pace afterward? This trade projection splits the difference between those scenarios.
Joe guesses Egbuka, by the time February rolls around, will be worth more than that. Just a hunch that there were a couple of factors that dragged Egbuka down in the second half last year.
The first was Egbuka never recovered from a bum hamstring he suffered against the 49ers. NextGen Stats, per Ben Solak, documented Egbuka never recaptured his speed after that injury.
The other reason Joe is giving Egbuka a pass? A combination of his quarterback getting banged up and with Mike Evans out, defenses began to key on him. So Joe tends to believe Egbuka will be better this year and his value will rise.
And he ain’t going anywhere, busy season or not.









July 20th, 2026 at 7:48 am
Emeka will be the best player on offense this year. The key for how many yards he gets this year will be the health of the offensive line for that extra split second to get him on the most efficient routes.
To trade him with Mike Evans gone would be the difference between first place in a winnable south division and paper bags back on the fans heads in the stands.
July 20th, 2026 at 8:12 am
wonder what Winfield would bring?….
anywho, i dont think Braswell makes the team…especially if Walker shows something
GO BUCS!!!!
July 20th, 2026 at 8:31 am
Who cares about what they could be bring in. It’s just a couple more weeks from training camp and the gloves get to be taken off. The Bucs are capable of winning their division. Beyond that at this juncture is speculation. We need alot of players healthy before speculating on how deep a run could happen in 2026. Too many ifs right now. The season needs to play out. It will come down to player development.
July 20th, 2026 at 9:02 am
That would qualify as immediate firing of GM JL.
July 20th, 2026 at 9:05 am
What is Bowles trade value? I think a 1st round pick and $10m.
(The Bucs would have to give up a 1st and the cash to get someone else to take him)
Licht’s trade value? A carton of Marlboro lights and a bottle of Skol vodka.
July 20th, 2026 at 9:25 am
I am interested to see how this current WR unit performs without ME13.
I believe it will be a much improved unit over last year’s…
ME13 had less than 370 yds receiving so I don’t believe it will hold us back much.
If Hurst is our WR #5 it should be an impressive group.
July 20th, 2026 at 9:29 am
@ Mod
It’s too bad TB wasn’t hired by another team as their HC…
Thanks to the DEI gods we could have been awarded two 3rd round picks.
Darn.
July 20th, 2026 at 9:33 am
Here’s hoping that EE figures out how to play against man and press defense.
July 20th, 2026 at 9:58 am
How well does Egbuka cover receivers in the flat?
July 20th, 2026 at 11:22 am
Let’s see how he plays this year. Last year was weird.
July 20th, 2026 at 12:39 pm
Jason L will not accept a bust on a draft pick. Heck, he even held on to his drafted kickers way too long.
July 20th, 2026 at 1:53 pm
Good Lord. I know I’m old, but back in my day you didn’t consider trading away a first round traffic who did really well in his rookie year. In his second year.
The minute by minute takes for constant content are killing the sport, at least the desire to follow it. Thanks, Ted Turner.
July 20th, 2026 at 2:22 pm
Another big factor that isn’t talked about a lot is that these rookies don’t get a offseason before the nfl. You got combine , draft, team visits all kind of workouts for teams and medical then rook mini camp and seminars. These guy fly all over the country. EE will be a stud this year and CG is finally healthy. Add in Jalen , Bucky , gainswell and a healthy oline new OC man can’t wait for some ball to start
July 20th, 2026 at 3:18 pm
Wow talk about the “SILLY season”! Barnwell must be truly bored!!!
EE has earned the right to become the next ME. You don’t get better trading young stars.
AGAIN…could we just consider…
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers used nine different starting combinations on the OL and placed multiple key contributors on injured reserve, including season-ending injuries for STARTING right guards Cody Mauch and left guard Ben Bredeson. STARTING tackles Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke also missed significant time due to injuries and offseason surgeries.
Baker gets worn down by all of his injuries and that’s a surprise with the OL he played behind. And make no mistake, I am not slamming the OL, I think they played as well as possible under the circumstances but sometimes as well as possible just ain’t enough!
July 20th, 2026 at 4:16 pm
he will never be ME 13….
to short
July 20th, 2026 at 7:55 pm
EE doesn’t have to replace Evans. He has to simply be his best self.
Last year was an outlier for this entire tem, but at least it forced addressing of the defense.
July 20th, 2026 at 9:21 pm
Hopefully the Joe writing this is correct. Otherwise it’s another draft pick wasted by the coaching staff