The Buccaneers newly-acquired 2025 draft class includes a couple of players on the offensive side of the ball, including the bookend selections of first-rounder Emeka Egbuka and seventh-round pick Tez Johnson.
On Day One, to kick start the draft spectacle, the Buccaneers made headlines by taking Ohio State receiver Emeka Egbuka with the 19th overall selection, when most pundits projected the Bucs to bolster the defense. Emeka joins a talented receiving corps that includes Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan, Sterling Shepard, Ryan Miller, Trey Palmer, Rakim Jarrett and Kameron Johnson. Egbuka provides position flexibility to play all three spots and will be moved around the formation to put stress on opposing defenses.
"[He is the] total package," said Head Coach Todd Bowles. "He's a playmaker, he can play all three positions – he plays in the slot, he plays the 'Z,' he plays the 'X,' he can run with the ball, he can throw the ball, he can catch the ball, he's a very good route runner, he's a winner, he makes contested catches, he's a very precise route runner as well, has a lot of speed at the same time, he blocks at the same time…He checks all of the boxes as a player and as a person. That made it an easy choice."
As a three-year starter at Ohio State, Egbuka primarily played out of the slot. He concluded his collegiate career with the most receptions in Ohio State history (205) and the second-most receiving yards, joining an esteemed fraternity of Buckeye pass-catchers. Egbuka is a savvy route-runner who plays with precision. He has an innate understanding of how to attack coverages with subtleties and pace variations at the break point of routes. He controls the catch point and will be a friendly option for Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay. Egbuka pairs outstanding ball-tracking skills with an advanced football IQ. Voted a 2024 team captain, Egbuka led by example and took a detailed-oriented approach while with the Buckeyes.
"I believe one strength that I've always had that I've [taken] a lot of pride in was ball tracking and catching the ball," noted Egbuka. "I think there's never been a ball in the air that I felt like was a difficult catch or that I couldn't track. I have an extensive baseball background so I think that's helped me out a lot – playing centerfield and stuff like that. So, ball in the air, I feel very comfortable with it at all angles. I think that's something I've always been really good at. Then, as far as improving myself at the next level, I think that I'm a very good and willing blocker but I think sometimes I have a tendency to hop or cross over or get over-excited about getting to block so, having a better base and continuing to work and strain in that area."
In the seventh-round, the Buccaneers double-dipped at receiver, picking up Oregon star Tez Johnson. Johnson reunites with his good friend and former teammate, Bucky Irving. He has a chance to compete for the punt return job and is known for his ability to electrify an offense before and after the catch. Johnson holds Oregon's number-one and number-two spots for most single-season catches.
"There's not a lot of guys that have cracked it [in the NFL] under 160 [lbs.] but you've got the Tutu Atwells, you've got a guy like Tank Dell," described Assistant General Manager Rob McCartney following the draft. "He doesn't play 4.5 [40-yard dash time], he plays a lot faster. There are a lot of instances where he's the fastest player on the field. There are multiple games where I thought he was the best player, too. His roommate two years ago, Bucky, he will vouch for that guy every day – he's one of his best friends. He plays the game the same kind of way, so that really excited us. We had a chance to spend time with him at the combine – he was one of our formal interviews – and he just lights up the room. I think he'll be a great impact in the locker room and then on the field with his ability with the ball in his hands."
Johnson is lethal in the open field and can quickly accelerate after sticking his foot in the ground. He quickly works over the top of corners on verticals and is adept at creating off screens, crossers and slants with yards-after-catch skills. Johnson ranked number-two in the FBS with 35 catches behind the line of scrimmage in 2024 and possesses rare change-of-direction and reactionary moves to hit top-speed instantaneously. Despite only playing two seasons in Eugene, Johnson finished in the top-five in Oregon annals in career catches (169). Entering the pros with the Buccaneers, Johnson looks forward to soaking up knowledge from Tampa Bay's heralded receiving corps.
"I watch him [Tank Dell] every day," stated Johnson. "I watch Cooper Kupp, Tyler Lockett and I think I just watch Bo [Nix] because that's my brother. He's a quarterback but I watch him. Those are the guys I watch and they're elite at the game. They're very elite and very technically sound. You can tell they work on their craft in the offseason and I want to be one of those guys too – work on my craft in the offseason, be able to showcase it on Sunday. Now that I'm there, I [will] be able to get notes from Mike Evans, and Jalen McMillan – he already had a rookie year so like how did he do it? Godwin, like all those guys in that room, I [will] be able to learn from them, too. I've never been one of the guys that just comes into a room and be like, 'Oh, this is mine.' I want to learn first. There [are] guys there that know stuff that I've never known before so it's my ability to be a sponge and soak it all in and be able to learn from those guys immediately."
