Buccaneers Rookie WR Predicted to be Big Factor

Buccaneers Rookie WR Predicted to be Big Factor originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offense has been so impressive that, for the second year in a row, the offensive coordinator was hired away to be a head coach, but this time, the team looked internally to replace the position in Josh Grizzard.

Quarterback Baker Mayfield posted two straight career seasons, with a 71.4 completion percentage, 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns to 16 picks in 2024.

The team’s wideout room was a big part of that, with seven different players posting 30 catches with 50 targets and 300 receiving yards.

Now, add yet another first-round draft pick to that room in Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka, and we have a dangerous situation brewing for the rest of the NFC South and the NFL.

But for all the accolades that Egbuka gets, and rightfully so, some forget he was never the No. 1 receiver target for the Buckeyes. That’s not a knock on him, but rather the product of him playing alongside names like Jaxson Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Jeremiah Smith.

But CBS Sports’ Jared Dubin thinks Egbuka will fit right in with the Bucs’ wideout room.

“Egbuka lined up primarily in the slot for the Buckeyes, especially during his senior season, where he was on the inside for 72.3% of his routes,” Dubin wrote. “His ability to play there will allow the Bucs to be cautious as they work Godwin back from his major injury, but it’s worth noting that Egbuka himself was outrageously efficient when working on the perimeter. He averaged 3.02 yards per route run when aligned outside during his career at Ohio State.

“Inside-outside versatility is one of the most important traits a receiver can have these days, and because Egbuka has it, the Bucs can use him in any of Evans, Godwin or McMillan’s roles on any given snap.”

New offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard will be responsible for managing all of this, and he has experience as a former wide receivers coach in Miami.

And with the running game clicking on all cylinders behind Bucky Irving, Rachaad White and Sean Tucker, this could be, yet again, another dangerous offense.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 14, 2025, where it first appeared.

Buccaneers Rookie WR Predicted to be Big Factor

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