The first rule of being a successful general manager in the NFL: draft good players.
It's simple, but so many front offices focus their time and resources on big signings in free agency or draft picks that fill positions of need instead of just taking what's in front of them. When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers spent a first-round pick on wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, many experts were shocked. The Bucs already had two Pro Bowl-caliber receivers and good depth behind them.
Just two games into his rookie season, the Ohio State product is already proving Tampa Bay right. With Chris Godwin out of the lineup, he's burst onto the scene and quickly become one of the most explosive players on this team. At this rate, Godwin's spot might not be there for him when he returns.
Emeka Egbuka is quietly taking over the Buccaneers' second WR spot
Here's a crazy stat: Egbuka is currently tied for the league lead in touchdown receptions. The rookie has been more productive this season than superstars like Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs. He's consistently beating defenders down the field, no matter who he's matched up with.
The Bucs receiver didn't take long to break out. He scored twice in his NFL debut, putting the rest of the league on notice. In a Week 2 win over the Houston Texans, he took a screen pass 15 yards into the end zone to give Tampa Bay its first lead of the game. Offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard is putting his trust in the rookie, and he's delivering.
But he's doing all of this without Godwin in the lineup. The veteran receiver is currently nursing an ankle injury and is set to miss at least a few more games before returning to the field. Godwin and Mike Evans have been one of the best receiving duos in the league for years, so overtaking him is no easy task.
But it already looks like Egbuka could hold onto the second receiver spot, even with Godwin in the lineup. With the impact he's made in the first two weeks of the season, he's on pace to become a true focal point in this offense.
Whoever ends up being Baker Mayfield's second option, one thing is abundantly clear. The Buccaneers have built a dominant group of receivers. If the rookie continues on his current trajectory, he'll end up being the steal of the 2025 NFL Draft.