The speak of the Bucs’ first OTA observe was the spotlight one-handed catch made by second yr huge receiver Emeka Egbuka. It was posted about on social media by a number of reporters, together with Pewter Report, and mentioned on the Pewter Report Podcast throughout Tuesday’s OTA recap episode.
However because it was in the course of the a part of observe the place filming was now not allowed, the one approach folks knew about it was via phrase of mouth. All of us patiently waited for the Bucs to publish the video themselves, and we lastly bought that it on Thursday. Right here is the video of Egbuka’s one-handed catch that generated a whole lot of fanfare on social media.
Egbuka is not any stranger to creating spotlight performs and even one-handed reception. He notably had an superior, one-handed catch within the Bucs’ dwelling opener final season towards the Jets. It was simply one other instance of the feeling that Egbuka might be for this workforce.
Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Is Emeka Egbuka WR1 For Bucs?
The Bucs huge receiver room is in an attention-grabbing spot going into the 2026 season. On paper, Chris Godwin Jr. would doubtless be the workforce’s primary receiver because of his standing and longevity on the workforce. However given Godwin’s latest damage struggles and the emergence of some younger stars on the place, it could not shock many if Emeka Egbuka, final yr’s first-round decide, rose as much as be the highest producer.
Egbuka led Tampa Bay in receiving by a mile a season in the past with 63 catches for 938 yards (14.9 avg.) and 6 touchdowns. However in equity, a number of gamers have been injured all year long. Egbuka was the one frequently beginning huge receiver to play in all 17 video games, so him surviving all through all of it gave him higher numbers than most.
Bucs WRs Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin Jr. – IMAGN Pictures
With that stated, his dynamic rookie season is definitely a terrific begin to construct on. Egbuka’s manufacturing did decelerate in direction of the top of the season, plus Jalen McMillan, Mike Evans and Godwin getting back from accidents moved the soccer round extra.
And that’s what makes this an intriguing query. By all accounts, Godwin seemed nice on the OTA observe final week. Plus, McMillan has the potential to choose up the place he left off as soon as coming back from a grotesque neck damage, Tampa Bay goes to have a terrific competitors between three receivers with enjoying expertise that may be the highest canine.
That doesn’t even embrace the Bucs drafting huge receiver Ted Hurst within the third spherical, who has the potential to be a star on this league. Add in Tez Johnson and different vital position gamers and the Bucs are unimaginable depth going into this season.
CBS Sports activities’ Jared Durbin wrote an article just lately asking what the most important questions are for the highest draft picks from a season in the past going into their second yr within the NFL. Egbuka’s title was introduced up for the Bucs as as to if he’ll be the highest receiver on the workforce. That is what Durbin wrote:
“Egbuka got off to a scorching start, catching 25 passes for 445 yards and five touchdowns in his first five games. Over his final 12 games, he caught “just” 38 balls for 493 yards and one rating.
“He’ll be counted on as Baker Mayfield’s top target this year with Mike Evans decamping for San Francisco. He wasn’t ever the top target at Ohio State. Can he be one in the pros?”
Bucs WRs Jalen McMillan, Chris Godwin, Tez Johnson, Sterling Shepard and Emeka Egbuka – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
If I have been wagering on it, Godwin will begin out as Tampa Bay’s high receiver from a manufacturing standpoint, however Egbuka is the longer term quantity considered one of this workforce. It’s going to take each wideout on offense to get the job carried out with Evans’ departure, and the truth is that a number of receivers on Tampa Bay’s offense can wind up being the No. 1 receiver on a weekly foundation with Mayfield’s penchant for spreading the ball round.
And due to that, one by no means is aware of who’s going to make the spotlight play like Egbuka did in observe final week. From top-to-bottom, the expertise degree at huge receiver could possibly be at an all-time excessive in Tampa Bay – even with out Evans in 2026.
