Buccaneers Sign Emeka Egbuka To Four-Year Rookie Deal
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed first-round rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka to a four-year, $18.1 million contract on Friday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Despite the fact the Bucs still have Mike Evans and Chris Godwin (ankle), they elected to take Egbuka out of Ohio State with the 19th overall pick in this year's NFL draft. The 6-foot-1, 202-pound 22-year-old is versatile and can move around the field, but he could struggle for volume in his rookie season in 2025 as long as both Evans and Godwin stay on the field. The addition of Egbuka is bad news for second-year pass-catcher Jalen McMillan. Egbuka was highly productive for the Buckeyes, setting a school record of 205 career catches for 2,868 yards and 24 touchdowns in 49 games. He should be the favorite to be Tampa's WR3 this season and will be a very attractive dynasty/keeper draft pick for the long term.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers added another outstanding wide receiver to their pass-catching corps by taking Ohio State's Emeka Egbuka with the 19th pick in the draft. Egbuka is the latest in a line of five straight OSU wide receivers selected in the first round, following the footsteps of Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Marvin Harrison Jr. Egbuka hauled in 81 catches for 1,011 yards this last season and scored 10 touchdowns for the Buckeyes. He'll join a crowded receiver room with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and last year's rookie Jalen McMillan, but he has the talent and experience to be an immediate contributor for QB Baker Mayfield as the Bucs look to repeat as NFC South champions for a fifth straight season.