'It raises the standard' – Baker Mayfield explains how Emeka Egbuka is pushing the Buccaneers offense in training camp
Sure, there are rookies that come in and take the NFL by storm in Year 1, but typically, that's not the case for most.So far, when talking about Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie Emeka Egbuka, it certainly sounds like it will be more of the former than the latter in 2025.The Bucs have spoken highly of […]
Sure, there are rookies that come in and take the NFL by storm in Year 1, but typically, that's not the case for most.
So far, when talking about Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie Emeka Egbuka, it certainly sounds like it will be more of the former than the latter in 2025.
The Bucs have spoken highly of what he's done so far since OTAs minicamp. From the coaching staff to the players, Egbuka is turning heads and they believe he's ready for a big year.
“He’s a pro. He’s really serious about practice and already knows damn near half the playbook," Bucs wideout Jalen McMillan said back in May. "I’m really excited for his growth and his future here.”
Egbuka carried that momentum into the second day of Bucs training camp, where he made a couple of nice plays and showed off his crisp route running. Per FOX Sports' Greg Auman, he made a really nice catch over the middle of the field, but unfortunately, reporters weren't allowed to film that portion of practice. Fortunately, a fan in the stands was able to catch the moment on their phone.
Either way, something is brewing with Egbuka in Tampa Bay and it will certainly help the offense pick up where it let off in 2024.
"Extremely well. I mean, [on] a day like today where Mike stopped practicing, you can put Emeka anywhere," Baker Mayfield told reporters when asked about Egbuka's development and how it's helping the Bucs. "It really is the truth. It's fun to be able to have a guy that's that intelligent, that doesn't act like a rookie, his head's not spinning.
"[And] he's able to do it and handle it the right way. It raises the standard for everybody else when you have a rookie coming in [and] learning the offense for the first time. It pushes everybody else around him. So it's great to have somebody like that."
Egbuka is offsetting Chris Godwin's absence which is a major plus for the Bucs offense
Godwin was placed on PUP ahead of camp, so he can be activated and return to practice once he's cleared to do so, but that timetable is currently unknown. Therefore, Egbuka doing what he's doing is going to help the Bucs offense in Godwin's stead.
It makes it even better when realizing both players can play multiple spots, too. Sure, Godwin is most effective on the inside, but he can also line up on the perimeter and do work in the screen game. Egbuka can do all of that, too.
There's one key item to remember in all this: Jalen McMillan got off to a hot start in both training camp and the preseason, but it took him a while before he could get to that level of production in the regular season. Once he got there, though, he took off.
I say that to say while Egbuka's doing all the right things and making plays – expectations do need to be tempered when things really start getting cranked up. Regardless, he should have a solid, positive impact on the Bucs' 2025 season and get even better as the years pass.
Buccaneers player retires from football during training camp and it will help aid the Tristan Wirfs injury situation
Tampa Bay Buccaneers reserve tackle Garret Greenfield has retired from football, the team announced Thursday morning. He entered the NFL in 2024 as an undrafted free agent out of West Virginia and began his career with the Seattle Seahawks before joining the Bucs back in January. It's unclear why Greenfield retired and currently, no corresponding […]
