Tampa Bay Buccaneers Rookie Forecast 2025

Buccaneers Rookie Forecast 2025

Solid Starter

Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State – Round 1

The Bucs surprised many when they neglected to add talent to their vulnerable defense and instead reinvested in one of the strengths of their team with a wide receiver. Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht fell in love with Egbuka, and while other teams didn’t necessarily view Egbuka as a top-20 talent, the Buccaneers valued him that high. While it may take some time, Egbuka should become a solid long-term starter in Tampa Bay.

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Egbuka is a polished receiver who looks ready to start quickly in his professional career. With smooth route-running, Egbuka consistently generates separation and gets open for his quarterback. While he is not elite and fast like Tyreek Hill or Jamison Williams, Egbuka has good speed and can run by defensive backs. He has the ability to challenge defenses over the top and is a threat to go vertical. With his route-running and quickness, Egbuka is reliable to get open and is dangerous to rip off yards. After the catch, he is a shifty runner who will dodge tacklers and weave his way through the defense with nifty footwork to keep defenders from getting a hold of him. Egbuka is sudden and shifty through the route with explosion out of his cuts as defenders really struggle to prevent him from generating separation.

In the NFL, Egbuka would fit best as a No. 2 receiver paired with a true No. 1. Egbuka has quality size and speed, but his skill set is not overwhelming for pro defensive backs. If Egbuka were to land in a passing offense with a good quarterback, he could be very productive and a dangerous weapon. Egbuka is a polished wide receiver who should compete to start quickly, and he looks like a reasonably safe pick to turn into a solid starter.

In the short term, Egbuka will compete to be the third receiver with 2024 third-round pick Jalen McMillan. However, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are not long-term starters, so in a year or two, Egbuka should take over for one of them as a starting receiver for Tampa Bay. I think Egbuka will have a long and productive NFL career and be a good starter in the mold of a Hines Ward.

2024: Chris Braswell, OLB
2023: Cody Mauch, G
2022: Logan Hall, DE
2021: Kyle Trask, QB
2020: Antoine Winfield Jr, S
2019: Mike Edwards, S
2018: Vita Vea, DT
2017: Chris Godwin, WR
2016: Roberto Aquayo, K
2015: Ali Marpet, G/C
2014: Mike Evans, WR
2013: Akeem Spence, DT

Most Likely To Bust

Jacob Parrish, CB, Kansas State – Round 3

I think Tampa Bay made a superb pick in the second round, but the Bucs ‘ third-round selection of Parrish was not as impressive to this analyst. Parrish (5-10, 191) is a smaller cornerback who will have to play in the slot in the NFL. While Parrish is a gritty defender, he can get pushed around by big receivers, and his run support is not impressive. Pro offenses like to employ motions that can push slot corners into linebacker roles, so I think that will be problematic for Parrish. Of the Buccaneers’ early-round picks, I think Parrish is the one with the most bust potential.

2024: Tykee Smith, DB
2023: YaYa Diaby, DE
2022: Rachaad White, RB
2021: Robert Hainsey, OT
2020: Ke’Shawn Vaughn, RB
2019: Sean Murphy-Bunting, CB
2018: Alex Cappa, G
2017: Justin Evans, S
2016: Noah Spence, DE
2015: Donovan Smith, OT
2014: Charles Sims, RB
2013: William Gholston, DE

Potential Boom Pick

Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame – Round 2

Under general manager Jason Licht and head coach Todd Bowles, Tampa Bay has done an excellent job of drafting defensive backs on day two and in the mid-rounds. It looks like they hit a home run again when they landed Morrison in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Morrison looked like a future first-round pick and only slid in the draft because of a hip injury.

Morrison (6-1, 185) is a competitive, physical, and gritty defender for the NFL. He has quality size and uses that well to defend big receivers. He shows impressive instincts and polish to get his head around in coverage and locate the football. That allows him to defend the ball and provide some turnovers for his defense rather than drawing penalties for pass interference. Morrison has very good hands, high points the football, and breaks on the ball quickly. He is a smart and instinctive cornerback with good ball skills, which makes him a dangerous defender to throw against in coverage.

Morrison is well-rounded, and he can play off man, zone, or press-man coverage. He has the speed to carry verticals and the physicality to press receivers to generate reroutes and disrupt the timing of routes. With his intelligence and instincts, Morrison is very good in zone coverage with quick diagnosis skills. His off-man coverage is okay for the NFL, but he is not a super twitched-up athlete. Hence, he would be better off playing more zone and press-man as a pro cornerback.

Morrison is a willing tackler and run defender who should help defend the ground game. The pre-draft workouts could be very important for determining how high Morrison gets drafted, but he still looks like a future pro starter and a player with the potential to be a good pro.

As a rookie, Morrison can develop and learn the pro game while backing up Zyon McCollum and Jamel Dean. In a year or two, Morrison could replace Dean and form a talented young tandem with McCollum. Of the Bucs’ early-round selections, I see some boom potential with Morrison.

2024: Graham Barton, C
2023: Calijah Kancey, DT
2022: Luke Goedeke, G
2021: Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, DE
2020: Tristan Wirfs, RT
2019: Devin White, LB
2018: Ronald Jones, RB
2017: O.J. Howard, TE
2016: Vernon Hargreaves, CB
2015: Jameis Winston, QB
2014: Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE
2013: Johnathan Banks, CB

Future Depth Player

David Walker, DE, Centeral Arkansas – Round 4

The Bucs were in need of more defensive line and pass rush talent after having Joe Tryon-Shoyinka turn into a bust as a former first-round pick. They helped make up for it with the selection of YaYa Diaby, but they need more pass rush and landed a good DPR candidate in the fourth round. As a designated pass rusher, Walker could pose a problem for offenses, as he possesses some natural quarterback-hunting skills. He has dangerous speed to power and plays with good leverage. Walker (6-1, 263) lacks the height and length to become a three-down starter, but he could be a good rotational pass rusher for the subpackage in Tampa Bay.

2024: Bucky Irving, RB
2023: Payne Durham, TE
2022: Cade Otton, TE
2021: Jaelon Darden, WR
2020: Tyler Johnson, WR
2019: Anthony Nelson, DE
2018: Justin Watson, WR
2017: Kendell Beckwith, LB
2016: Devante Bond, LB
2015: Kwon Alexander, LB
2014: Robert Herron, S
2013: Mike Glennon, QB