Buccaneers lose Emeka Egbuka to NFC South rival in 2025 NFL Re-Draft

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made one of the best draft picks in the entire NFL last year, selecting wide receiver Emeka Egbuka in the first round. 

The pick was surprising at first given the expectation Tampa Bay would select a defensive player, but it proved to be the right move. Egbuka burst onto the scene his rookie year with 63 catches for 938 yards and six touchdowns. 

With Mike Evans leaving for the San Francisco 49ers in free agency and Egbuka poised for an even bigger role in his sophomore season, the pick looks even better in hindsight. 

Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic explored how the 2025 NFL Draft would unfold if it took place today, knowing what we know after the player’s rookie seasons. 

Falcons steal Emeka Egbuka from Buccaneers in 2025 NFL Re-Draft 

In Baumgardner’s re-draft, Egbuka gets selected No. 15 overall to the Atlanta Falcons, who originally drafted Jalon Walker in that spot. What a disaster that would be for Tampa Bay! 

Egbuka would be lined up across from Drake London, in an offense that also features Bijan Robinson and Kyle Pitts. If you thought Tampa Bay couldn’t stop the Falcons’ offense before…

The Bucs returned the favor, though. With Egbuka off the board, they pivoted and drafted safety Xavier Watts at No. 19 overall in the re-draft. Watts originally wasn’t drafted until the third-round at No. 96 overall, so seeing him go so early in the re-draft shows what a value the Falcons got. 

Watts recorded five interceptions during his rookie season - second among all safeties and also had four passes broken up. His 72 solo tackles ranked 15th at the position. Watts was an absolute steal for the Falcons, and seems well on his way to being one of the best safeties in the NFL. 

But Watts wouldn’t have a defined role in Tampa Bay, with Antoine Winfield Jr. and Tykee Smith cemented as the starting safeties. Drafting Watts might’ve forced Smith back into the nickel corner role, which then begs the question: What happens to Jacob Parrish, who was a standout at nickel corner as a rookie. 

The re-draft creates a domino effect of questions for Tampa Bay - not to mention it would’ve left the Buccaneers with a massive need for a wide receiver this offseason after Evans’ departure. 

So as great as it would be to have a playmaker like Watts patrolling the defensive backfield, the Bucs are better off with Egbuka as the future of the wide receiver room, and everything worked out the way it was meant to for all parties involved.

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