The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have selected wide receiver Emeka Egbuka as the 19th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, marking a significant move for the franchise. Egbuka, who starred at nearby Ohio State, gives the Buccaneers’ offense an embarrassment of riches with talent and positional versatility. His impressive college statistics include a record-setting 205 career catches, the most in Ohio State history, and 2,868 receiving yards, which ranks second all-time for the school.
Egbuka’s ability to line up in multiple positions—slot, ‘Z’, and ‘X’—makes him a valuable asset for Tampa Bay. He’s a sub 4.3 guy and has great route-runner skills. He’s not just a great catcher, he can take off and run, throw the ball down field and snatch passes in traffic. This multifaceted skill set allows the Buccaneers to utilize him effectively in their offensive schemes, particularly in pre-snap motion strategies.
Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht shared his excitement after Egbuka was chosen. He explained that the decision was indeed seen as a current and long-term investment into the team.
“I texted him right away and said, ‘You’re going to like this one,’” – Jason Licht
Egbuka’s addition to the team would be a huge boost to their receiving corps. His capacity to spread around targets will make for a more diverse attack, which will aid everyone’s production. In both his time at Washington and Ohio State, he was the best player on the field every single game. Yet, he truly excelled even as he shared the spotlight with other great talents.
TAMPA, FL — Head Coach Todd Bowles did not mince words when discussing Egbuka’s extraordinary talents and potential impact on the field.
“He’s a playmaker, he can play all three positions — he plays in the slot, he plays the ‘Z,’ he plays the ‘X,’ he can run with the ball, he can throw the ball, he can catch the ball, he’s a very good route runner, he’s a winner,” – Todd Bowles
Another quality to Egbuka that has been brought up is his willingness to learn from older teammates including quarterback Baker Mayfield. Just two days after getting picked, Egbuka enjoyed a bottomless-mimosa brunch spread with Mayfield and the Buccaneers’ offensive line. Throughout he showed an eagerness to fit in with the team at large.
“I’m excited to be able to learn,” – Emeka Egbuka
Playoff teams are a reminder that a prolific offense is the best way to improve a mediocre defense. Bowles said that Egbuka reflects a philosophy like this with his maturity and focus playing the game.
“A good offense can help a defense,” – Todd Bowles
Egbuka’s time in college has already sharpened his sense of what’s important when it comes to building a team and culture. He admitted that being in the same wide receiver room with so many other great players at WVU has definitely influenced how he’s defined success.
“I think something that I learned throughout my time at Ohio State… is [that] when you have a strong culture built around your program… their success just feels like your success,” – Emeka Egbuka
Needless to say, the Buccaneers are thrilled to have Egbuka join the team and look forward to what he can add. They think he has a chance to be great as a player and a person. That level of confidence renders him the clear-cut favorite to go first overall during next spring’s draft process.
“You can’t find anybody to say anything bad about this guy, in terms of his leadership, his commitment, his passion, his accountability… It’s all top notch,” – Jason Licht
As a former NFL talent scout, Touchdown Wire founder Scifres recognizes Egbuka as special talent. They think he can help them right away and even potentially develop into a cornerstone piece going forward.
“Players like Chris and Mike, [McMillan] and Emeka — they’re unicorns,” – Jason Licht
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