Few rookies enter Buccaneers training camp with the kind of anticipation surrounding Emeka Egbuka, and there's good reason for it. After the 2025 NFL draft in April, head coach Todd Bowles didn't hold back in his praise, dubbing the rookie wideout "the total package."
And Bowles didn't stop there. He also called Egbuka a "playmaker," a "very good route runner," "a winner" and "a very precise route runner." The coach added that Egbuka "checks all of the boxes as a player and as a person."
As training camp kicks off, fans will finally get a firsthand look at whether Egbuka possesses the qualities Bowles so confidently outlined.
On Monday, reporter Brianna Dix shared a list of five Buccaneers players fans should keep an eye on, and Egbuka was one of them.
"Egbuka has an exceptional feel for coverage voids and how to bait defenders at the break point with subtle fakes," Dix wrote. "His ball-tracking ability and route-running precision were on display during minicamp, and training camp will provide insight into his new role in Josh Grizzard's offense."
With Mike Evans and Chris Godwin established as the top two receivers on the depth chart, Egbuka will compete for the third spot. Dix notes that Egbuka will face a tight battle for that role against Jalen McMillan, Sterling Shepard and Tez Johnson, all vying for position on a crowded depth chart.