Did the Bucs get it right or did the Bucs get it wrong?

Did the Buccaneers hit or miss with their selection of Emeka Egbuka?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a relatively shocking round one. Many takes involved the Buccaneers trading back, or opting for defense. The team stayed put and drafted Emeka Egbuka— Yet another wide receiver, to add to one of the organization’s most talented groups. The reaction amongst the fanbase has been mixed, to say the least.

The Buccaneers, however, were honest throughout the pre-draft process, stating on multiple occasions that they wouldn’t be neglecting offensive talent to fill needs on the defensive side of the ball. Both Todd Bowles and Jason Licht dropped consistent nuggets that the wide receiver position was something on their radar, so the surprise and shock really shouldn’t have been there. The reason for the disbelief? Tampa Bay boasted a top-5 offense a year ago while Todd Bowles’ defense looked pedestrian, slow, and incapable at times. Like any scenario there are pros and cons— This is where the Bucs got it right and where the Bucs got it wrong.

Where The Bucs Got It Right

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Once you navigate your way past the initial dismay of Tampa not adding a defensive playmaker, Emeka Egbuka checks a lot of boxes, as a prospect. Egbuka is coming from an impressive wide receiver lineage.

The Buccaneers may not need an additional wide receiver but, last season the unit’s depth was challenged heavily. Both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin went down against the Baltimore Ravens, Jalen McMillan only played 13 games, and Baker Mayfield was forced to play meaningful season-altering games with Ryan Miller and Sterling Shepard as his headliners.

The Buccaneers’ selection of Egbuka, seemingly, lets Jason Licht breathe easy— as it pertains to his offense’s ability to pass the football. His team’s ability to stop other teams from passing? That remains a potential issue and highlights the antithesis of our first point.

Where The Bucs Got It Wrong

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The 2025 draft represents the rare moment where a pick can be so maligned by many, and the disdain has nothing to do with the actual player/person selected. The reason the selection of Egbuka is so baffling, bordering on frustration, for the Tampa Bay faithful is due to the fact that there were a litany of other positions that needed help and could have used a high-caliber addition. The Buccaneers already possess a top-flight offense and made sure they returned all 11 starters from a season ago, leaving them with no noticeable holes to fill around Baker Mayfield.

On defense, the team had some reliable performances last year, but was dog-walked by Kirk Cousins (twice), couldn’t force a single punt in the postseason, and had (politely) a handful of games where a stop or their ability to make a play would have secured a victory. Rather than make a play, get the stop, or close-out the game, Todd Bowles’ group failed to deliver. That failure to be counted upon is what has driven fans crazy throughout the last few seasons and what ultimately drove Tampa into the offseason a few months ago.

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