The Buccaneers newly-acquired 2025 draft class includes a couple of players on the offensive side of the ball, including the bookend selections of first-rounder Emeka Egbuka and seventh-round pick Tez Johnson.
On Day One, to kick start the draft spectacle, the Buccaneers made headlines by taking Ohio State receiver Emeka Egbuka with the 19th overall selection, when most pundits projected the Bucs to bolster the defense. Emeka joins a talented receiving corps that includes Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan, Sterling Shepard, Ryan Miller, Trey Palmer, Rakim Jarrett and Kameron Johnson. Egbuka provides position flexibility to play all three spots and will be moved around the formation to put stress on opposing defenses.
“[He is the] total package,” said Head Coach Todd Bowles. “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, he makes contested catches, he’s a very precise route runner as well, has a lot of speed at the same time, he blocks at the same time…He checks all of the boxes as a player and as a person. That made it an easy choice.”
As a three-year starter at Ohio State, Egbuka primarily played out of the slot. He concluded his collegiate career with the most receptions in Ohio State history (205) and the second-most receiving yards, joining an esteemed fraternity of Buckeye pass-catchers. Egbuka is a savvy route-runner who plays with precision. He has an innate understanding of how to attack coverages with subtleties and pace variations at the break point of routes. He controls the catch point and will be a friendly option for Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay. Egbuka pairs outstanding ball-tracking skills with an advanced football IQ. Voted a 2024 team captain, Egbuka led by example and took a detailed-oriented approach while with the Buckeyes.
“I believe one strength that I’ve always had that I’ve [taken] a lot of pride in was ball tracking and catching the ball,” noted Egbuka. “I think there’s never been a ball in the air that I felt like was a difficult catch or that I couldn’t track. I have an extensive baseball background so I think that’s helped me out a lot – playing centerfield and stuff like that. So, ball in the air, I feel very comfortable with it at all angles. I think that’s something I’ve always been really good at….
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