Coming into the 2026 NFL regular season, few players had as much hype around them as a breakout star than Emeka Egbuka. But the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sophomore receiver has been nowhere near a No. 1 or even a credible No. 2 option for this offense.
The quarterback play from Baker Mayfield and undrafted rookie rookie Jalon Daniels has not done Egbuka any favors, nor has the dreadful play-calling by Zac Robinson, but even adjusting for those factors, the former Ohio State star has been a massive disappointment and an honest liability in this offense.
Because when it comes to things he can control, he has not been doing enough to help the Buccaneers win games. Egbuka has more receptions and targets than any Bucs receiver, but he is not turning them into much production. He catches only about 57 percent of what is thrown at him on a meager nine yards per reception, meaning the Bucs quarterbacks barely even average five yards per target when throwing it to him, which is so bad that it is less than both of their yards per attempt averages.
Emeka Egbuka's regression is becoming a major concern for the Buccaneers
A big part of that lack of production is the sheer fact that Emeka Egbuka is not making plays with the ball in his hands after the catch. Egbuka is only averaging 4.1 yards after the catch per reception, which is horrendous. That total is worse than any other pass-catcher on the Bucs besides rookie Ted Hurst, who is having a disastrous debut season of his own.
Egbuka is averaging even less yards after the catch than tight end Cade Otton, which is really saying something. His regression dating back to last season is starting to become a real concern, and there's a legitimate question about whether he already reached his peak as a rookie, and if he'll ever reach those heights again.
So Egbuka is not getting open consistently, and not making plays after the catch when he does get the football. For a player expected to be crucial to the offense, he's becoming quite the liability, or at the very least underwhelming.
Egbuka has himself to blame for not being a bigger threat with the ball in his hands, and even though Baker Mayfield and the quarterbacks are not helping him much, Egbuka's regression and failure to produce remain among this offense's biggest issues.
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