Bucs not wasting time getting deals done for the rookies.
As Buccaneers rookie mini-camp kicked off at the AdventHealth Training Center this week, Tampa Bay wasted no time making sure their rookies were under contract.
The team made official the contracts for first-round pick wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, cornerback Jacob Parrish, outside linebacker David Walker, defensive lineman Elijah Roberts and wide receiver Tez Johnson.
Egbuka (6-1, 205) was selected by the Buccaneers in the first round (No. 19 overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft. He played collegiately at The Ohio State University (2021-24), appearing in 51 career games and making 40 consecutive starts to conclude his collegiate career. Egbuka finished his Ohio State tenure as the program’s all-time leader in receptions (205), while ranking second in receiving yards (2,868) and seventh in touchdown receptions (24). As a senior in 2024, Egbuka brought in 81 catches for 1,011 yards and 10 touchdowns, joining Marvin Harrison Jr. as the only two players in school history to record multiple 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Voted a team captain in 2024, Egbuka helped lead the Buckeyes to a victory in the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship Game against Notre Dame. The Tacoma, Washington, native will wear No. 9 for Tampa Bay.
Parrish (5-10, 198) was selected by the Buccaneers in the third round (No. 84 overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft. He played collegiately at Kansas State University (2022-24), starting 24-of-38 career games and compiling 108 tackles, 19 passes defensed, five interceptions and one fumble recovery. Parrish received All-Big 12 honorable mention recognition following the 2023 season in which he posted career highs in passes defensed (nine) and interceptions (four). The Olathe, Kansas, native will wear No. 25 for Tampa Bay.
Walker (6-2, 290) was selected by the Buccaneers in the fourth round (No. 121 overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft. He played collegiately at Southern Arkansas University (2020-21) and Central Arkansas University (2022-24), where he combined to appear in 45 career games and amass 243 tackles (82.5 for loss), 39.0 sacks, eight passes defensed, six forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Walker was a three-time United Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year and concluded his Central Arkansas career as the program’s all-time leader in sacks (31.0) and tackles for loss (60.0). Following his 2024 season, he was named a first-team FCS All-American for the third straight year and received the Buck Buchanan Award as the nation’s top FCS defensive player, recording career highs in tackles (68), tackles for loss (23.0), passes defensed (six), and forced fumbles (four), along with 10.5 sacks. The Stuttgart, Arkansas, native will wear No. 51 for Tampa Bay.
Roberts (6-4, 295) was selected by the Buccaneers in the fifth round (No. 157 overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft. He played collegiately at the University of Miami (2020-22) and Southern Methodist University (2023-24), where he combined to start 28-of-47 games and tally 93 tackles (26.0 for loss), 18.0 sacks, five forced fumbles, four passes defensed and one fumble recovery. Over two seasons at SMU, Roberts led the nation with 131 quarterback pressures. Voted a team captain in 2024, he earned a Pro Football Focus grade of 91.2 – the second-highest among all FBS edge rushers that season. The Miami native will wear No. 95 for Tampa Bay.
Johnson (5-10, 165) was selected by the Buccaneers in the seventh round (No. 235 overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft. He played collegiately at Troy University (2020-22) and the University of Oregon (2023-24), where he combined to start 40-of-62 games and record 310 receptions for 3,889 yards and 28 touchdowns. At Oregon, Johnson recorded the two highest single-season reception totals in program history, hauling in 86 catches in 2023 and 83 in 2024. His 20 receiving touchdowns over that span tied for the third-most in the FBS. He concluded his Oregon career ranked fifth in school history in receptions (169) and eighth in touchdown catches. The Pinson, Alabama, native will wearNo. 83 for Tampa Bay.
(Courtesy of the Buccaneers Communications Department.)