Bucs Final Draft Grades: Emeka Egbuka and Day 3 hidden gem highlight another rookie class that can have an immediate impact
Just about everyone expected the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to go all-out on the defensive side of the ball in the 2025 NFL Draft. That didn't happen in the first round, but things quickly corrected course afterward.To sum it all up: Across the board, this class is loaded with potential. The best part is the top […]
Just about everyone expected the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to go all-out on the defensive side of the ball in the 2025 NFL Draft. That didn't happen in the first round, but things quickly corrected course afterward.
To sum it all up: Across the board, this class is loaded with potential. The best part is the top picks enter crowded position rooms, which immediately ramps up the competition level. In return, it should make the team better as a whole and has the potential to follow the 2024 class in terms of immediate impact.
So with all that being said, let's stop wasting time and hand out some grades.
Round 1, No. 19 overall: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State Buckeyes
When you zoom out and think about it, this is a really good pick. The biggest complaint with this pick is Egbuka joins a crowded receiver room, but any other logical pick at 19 would've been in some sort of rotation, as well.
A linebacker would've been rotating with Lavonte David and SirVocea Dennis and a cornerback likely would've been rotating with Jamel Dean and Zyon McCollum. Josh Grizzard will definitely find a way to get Egbuka on the field in an effective capacity.
Outside of that question, what's there to not like about this pick? You have a guy who set school records despite being a part of a crowded receiver room for his entire collegiate career. His top traits (route running, football IQ, hands, versatility) can all translate to the NFL and his character are off the charts. It just may take a year or two before he becomes the guy in the Bucs' passing attack and that's simply because of the players around him before anything else.
Grade: B+
Round 2, No. 53 overall: Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
This one is pretty simple: If Morrison can stay healthy then the Bucs nabbed one of the draft's bigger steals. Morrison says he feels better than ever and that he held a "private showcase" in order to make sure teams know just how good of shape he's in.
It obviously worked on the Bucs. Morrison should be able to come in and immediately push Dean for the starting perimeter job opposite McCollum and there's certainly a chance he wins the gig. The former Irishman is a physical ball hawk that can play both man and zone coverages. He also hails from press-heavy scheme, so he's no stranger to matching up 1-on-1 with receivers at the line of scrimmage.
The health concerns are legitimate, though. Morrison's had two hip surgeries in the last four years, with the most recent coming in October 2024. A cornerback's hips are obviously integral when it comes to their effectiveness, so the Bucs definitely took a risk, here. However, the reward is well worth the gamble.
Grade: B
Round 3, No. 84 overall: Jacob Parrish, CB, Kansas State
The Bucs got their speedy, twitchy cornerback in Parrish, who should compete for the starting nickel spot. This pick all but confirms Tykee Smith's move to safety – something that Bowles and Co. have talked about during the offseason.
Parrish and Christian Izien will battle it out for the inside job and while Izien has been steady during his time in Tampa Bay, Parrish's upside makes him the early favorite to win the job. Not only is he fast, but his physicality is on par with the top guys at his position and he's a helluva open-field tackler. He's very good at press, too, which is another move toward getting back to playing more press.
Parrish needs to work on his discipline, which is key for his position. His lack of size will also work against him at times, but he has the tools to develop the technique(s) to help offset that as he develops over the years.
Grade: B+
Round 4, No. 121 overall: David Walker, EDGE, Central Arkansas
The Bucs need a game-wrecker in the EDGE/outside linebacker room and they certainly got one in Walker. The biggest question surrounding his resume is the level of competition he faced as an FCS player, but he responded to those questions by holding his own during the Senior Bowl in February.
Walker lived in opposing backfields, finishing with 82.5 tackles for loss and 39.0 sacks over four years. Yes, there will certainly be a transition from college to the pros, but that's the beauty of this pick: The Bucs don't need Walker to come in and make an immediate impact in 2024, although they'd be thrilled if he did. Both parties have this year to figure out how to best benefit each other and then the relationship can develop from there.
He knows how to use his frame to his advantage, he has the bend to get around tackles, and he has an array of moves. It's a zero-risk/total-reward pick that is impossible to dislike.
Grade: A
Round 5, No. 157 overall: Elijah Roberts, DL, SMU Mustangs
This another really solid pick that brings a potentially explosive dynamic to the respective position group. Roberts is more of a broad, powerful guy that has good length along with quickness and speed to his game.
That was evident over the last two seasons, as he finished with a stout 23.5 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles while playing mostly defensive end (7-9 tech) at SMU. He'd certainly line up with his hand in the dirt on the end of the line for the Bucs, most likely in obvious passing situations while he develops.
The catch with Roberts' game is it'll be up to the Bucs to maximize him – he's not a dynamic athlete that will be able to use his abilities to mask deficiencies. But hey, the Bucs will get excellent value if Roberts becomes even a solid rotational player during his time in Tampa Bay.
Grade: B
Round 7, No. 235 overall: Tez Johnson, WR, Oregon Ducks
Another receiver? Man, the Bucs aren't playing around when it comes to making sure they have enough reliable guys in case Mike Evans and Chris Godwin go down at the same time again.
In all seriousness, Johnson provides a catch-and-run element that could prove useful in the Bucs offense. He's awfully small at 5-foot-9, 154 pounds, but he plays bigger than that and he can return punts. Plus, he gets to rejoin Bucky Irving – that counts for something, right?
The downside is Johnson will require a specific role in the short passing game in order to succeed and if he isn't good at returning punts on top of the short game, then he'll represent a wasted roster spot, to an extent. The Bucs will have to be judicious with him over the summer.
Grade: C+
Final Word
The Bucs threw everyone a curveball in Round 1, but it's a really good pick that will pay off in both the short term and the big picture. Baker Mayfield and the Bucs offense will be a force to reckon with in 2025 and should be an improved unit from last year, regardless of who is calling plays.
Tampa Bay shored up both the cornerback and EDGE rooms, as both are crowded as hell. That's a good problem to have, as teams can never have enough good players at both positions. After seeing what injuries did to the defense last year, it makes all the sense in the world to fortify the depth and it's what just about everyone expected the Bucs to do in the draft.
Overall, mission accomplished. If this class lives up to its potential it has the chance to be just as impactful as last year's draft class, which would equate to nothing less than another division title and playoff run in 2025 and beyond.
Final Grade: B+
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