Latest news with #Egbuka
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka Using Vets' Experience To Hone His Craft
Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka Using Vets' Experience To Hone His Craft originally appeared on Athlon Sports. We don't often like to use the word perfect around here, but sometimes it is appropriate, and when it comes to a young rookie receiver landing in a perfect spot, we think Emeka Egbuka has landed in such a place with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Advertisement Entering an offense that has Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Baker Mayfield, Egbuka has three quality Pro Bowl players to learn from, something that other receivers from his draft class don't have. Yes, he might be a little down the pecking order right now, but Emeka is using what is available to him to learn and grow as a player. When appearing on NFL Network's The Insiders, Egbuka detailed how much help he's gotten from Tampa Bay's veterans. "Considering the room that I'm in, with such established vets and pros and with Baker at the helm of the offense, I'm just taking bits and pieces every single day learning from them," Egbuka said on the Insiders. "There's really not a scenario throughout the day where I don't learn from them. So I'm just trying to use every experience here to be able to learn, grow, and establish a routine here so I can be the most successful I can be." Jan 20, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (2) against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the CFP National Championship college football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. © Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Talk about fast-tracking your development. Advertisement Some were confused as to why the Buccaneers selected Emeka in the first round of the NFL Draft, considering the defensive needs, but maybe the Ohio State stud is seen as Evans' replacement in a year or two. So learning as much as he can now, not only from Mike, but Godwin, Cade Otton, and Mayfield, will set him up well for the future. The best trait a rookie can have is to be a sponge and soak up any information they can get, and for Egbuka, he's doing just that in the hopes of hitting the ground running in his first season. Related: Buccaneers New Coach Passing First Test in Unique Role Related: Buccaneers Offense Trying To Match High Expectations in 2025 This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
NBC Sports
3 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Chris Godwin's new contract has no exceptions for his ankle injury
After the Buccaneers selected Ohio State receiver Emeka Egbuka with the 19th pick in the 2025 draft, some assumed that the Bucs were concerned about veteran receiver Chris Godwin's availability for the start of the season. If the team has such concerns, those concerns didn't make their way into the three-year, $66 million contract Godwin signed with the Buccaneers in March. PFT has obtained and reviewed the contract. There's no language regarding the injury. Nothing that, for example, conditions any of the $20.745 million 2025 roster bonus on passing a physical. (The second and final installment is due in six days.) Nothing that creates an exception for any aggravation of the injury or related condition. Maybe the Bucs had no choice, given that Godwin had a better financial offer on the table from the Patriots. And while the Patriots ultimately signed receiver Stefon Diggs to a deal containing protections for the team against his torn ACL, Diggs didn't have many (or maybe any) other options. Godwin possibly was able to leverage the interest of the Patriots and Buccaneers into a deal that didn't protect the team against the injury that predated the contract. Still, the contract becomes an important piece of tangible evidence to counter the notion that the Bucs drafted Egbuka because they're concerned about Godwin's health. If they were sufficiently concerned to use a first-round pick on his short-term replacement, why would they have committed $44 million in guarantees to Godwin? So why Egbuka? Well, Mike Evans is entering his 12th season, and he'll be 32 in August. They'll need to have a replacement ready to go, at some point. Besides, the Bucs don't exactly have many pressing roster needs. They were able to take the best available player when they were on the clock. Which they did.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What's in Store for Jalen McMillan in 2025?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and general manager Jason Licht shocked many when they selected Ohio State Buckeyes receiver Emeka Egbuka with their first-round pick in this year's draft. It was surprising to many since the team boasted one of the best offenses and most stable receiver corps in the league a season ago. Advertisement With star wideout Mike Evans still in the fold and Chris Godwin returning in free agency in 2025, the team seemed set at receiver, especially considering rookie and last year's third-round pick, Jalen McMillan, had a breakout second half of the season after Godwin went down with an injury. Now, with the addition of Ebuka to the offense and the receivers room, some are questioning whether it's too crowded with McMillan. ESPN NFL analyst Ben Solak isn't sure how McMillan will fit in the Bucs' new offense with Egbuka in the mix. "I was very bullish on Year 2 for McMillan, who rose nicely to the challenge after Chris Godwin was lost for the season to an ankle injury," Solak wrote. Then the Buccaneers drafted Emeka Egbuka in the first round of the 2025 draft, sliding McMillan squarely into a battle for WR3 responsibilities this season. McMillan is a savvy route runner with better speed than he's given credit for, and he has some spectacular catch ability in him. Advertisement "I still believe in the player, even if the opportunity for high volume is vanishing." There's a chance that Godwin isn't ready to return from his gruesome dislocated ankle suffered in Week 10 last year when the 2025 season starts. If that's the case, having McMillan around is a necessity. With the addition of Egbuka, the team could still have three bona fide starting receivers so Godwin can take his time. When Godwin returns? We'll have to see. Related: Floria Star And Bucs Ex Arrested On Disturbing Child Abuse Charges Related: Can Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka Be Baker Mayfield's No. 1 Weapon?
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Can Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka Be Baker Mayfield's No. 1 Weapon?
Where you get drafted in the NFL matters, and for Emeka Egbuka, we are struggling to think of a better situation he could have landed than in Tampa Bay with the Buccaneers. Why? With Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, Egbuka can learn from two studs in his first year, plus he has Baker Mayfield as his quarterback, who is coming off back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons. Advertisement Those are as good a reason as any. So Emeka will slot into an offense as the third option, maybe fourth behind Jalen McMillan, who hauled in eight touchdowns in his rookie season, and that will allow Egbuka to quietly go about his development in the background while not getting a lot of attention from defences. For Marc Ross, Egbuka has landed in one of the best situations to kickstart his career. "Tampa Bay returns both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, meaning Egbuka can learn from them and make plays in the slot while the veteran duo garners all the attention on the perimeter," Ross writes. "I envision Egbuka playing on a track similar to that of his fellow former Buckeye Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who was third fiddle to DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett early on in his career before eventually emerging as Seattle's leading receiver." Egbuka To Buccaneers By Tony Fisher Training camp will make for an interesting watch with McMillan and Egbuka "fighting" for the No. 3 receiver role, and if those two are your third pass-catching options, you're doing well. Advertisement Loving doing the dirty work in the run game, Egbuka will also be a key cog for Bucky Irving, too, because the Buccaneers are one of the best rushing teams in football, and show no signs of being anything other than that in 2025. Egbuka comes into the NFL able to learn from a future Hall of Famer in Evans, a Pro Bowler in Godwin, so he can see how they go about their business both on and off the field, and there isn't pressure for him to come in and be a star from the get-go - he can ease himself into his career. Where you get drafted matters. Related: Bucs Sign Most Famous Rookie Free Agent To 3-Year Contract Related: Bucs' Shilo Takes Comical Jab at Lonely Brother Shedeur
USA Today
12-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Emeka Egbuka shares what meant the most to him after being drafted
Ashlie Abrahams Rookie mini camp is underway which gives the media the first opportunity to get to know the newest Bucs draft picks. They can ask all the hard-hitting questions fans and media alike have been dying to know, such as what stood out to first-round pick Emeka Egbuka during the draft process. Egbuka, when asked what meant the most to him after being drafted 19th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft by the Buccaneers, pointed out a phone call made to him by Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfied. Egbuka explains that Mayfield welcomed him to the team and invited him and his family out to lunch to get acquainted. Egbuka stated, 'You hear all about these big timers, these guys with huge egos, so for Baker to extend his hand out, extend that invitation, it meant a lot to me.' Building that chemistry will be important, as even with a stacked wide receiver room of Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Jalen McMillan, the Buccaneers will look to get Egbuka involved early and often. Mayfield has shown he doesn't often play favorites when it comes to giving targets to his receivers, so it makes sense he wants to have the best chemistry possible with every player on the offense. It also speaks to his ever-growing character.
