The Bucs had some questions at wide receiver, and they took a big step toward answering them in the first round.
With the 19th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have selected wide receiver Emeka Egbuka out of The Ohio State University. Here’s everything you need to know.
Stats & Accolades
- 2021: Played in 11 games (Nine receptions, 191 receiving yards). Honorable Mention All-Big Ten as kick returner (20 returns, 580 return yards, 29.0 average).
- 2022: Started 13 games (74 receptions, 1,151 receiving yards, 10 touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns). Second-Team All-Big Ten. Finalist for Paul Hornung Award (nation’s most versatile player).
- 2023: Played in 10 games with nine starts (41 receptions, 515 yards, four touchdowns). Third-Team All-Big Ten.
- 2024: Played in 16 games with 15 starts (81 receptions, 1,011 receiving yards, 10 touchdowns). Third-Team All-Big Ten. Set school record with 205 career receptions.
What the Buccaneers are getting:
Egbuka is a well-rounded, high-floor receiver prospect who, while he does not possess any elite physical traits, is always showing up for his quarterback and providing value to his team outside of catching passes. He works his tail off as a run blocker, and posted a sub-4.50 40 at 6’1 and 201 pounds. Egbuka is a legitimate NFL receiver who will do anything and everything for an NFL team, including returning kicks and punts. Egbuka worked mainly out of the slot at Ohio State but that was primarily due to playing with a number of other past and future first-round draft picks. He can play at all spots on the field and be reliable and impactful at all of them.
Strengths
- May have the highest floor of any wide receiver prospect in the draft
- Baseball background is evident when tracking the deep ball
- Nose for the ball inside the 20-yard line (15-of-24 touchdowns came in red zone)
- Will never find him staying still on the scramble drill or letting a defender undercut him
- Ohio State’s leader in career receptions
- Kick and punt return experience
Weaknesses
- No elite physical trait or measurement
- Would like to see him run bigger with more intention after the catch
- Will not intimidate NFL defensive backs with speed off the line
Athletic Testing
- Height: 6’1
- Weight: 201 pounds
- 40-yard dash: 4.48
- 10-yard split: 1.50
- Vertical jump: 38 inches
- Broad jump: N/A
- 3-cone drill: N/A
- Short shuttle: 4.12
- Bench Press: N/A