Emeka Egbuka was the Bucs succession plan for Mike Evans
While Bucs fans are missing Mike Evans, a year ago the Bucs began preparing for it in the NFL Draft.
When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers turned in the card for Emeka Egbuka on draft night, it felt like a straightforward move: add polish, add explosiveness, add youth to the wide receiver room. But in hindsight, it may have been something more. With franchise icon Mike Evans leaving in free agency to join the San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay’s decision to invest premium draft capital at wide receiver suddenly carries added weight.
Was this simply about depth? Or was it a quiet passing of the torch? Egbuka entered the league with a reputation for being pro-ready.
At Ohio State, he showcased route precision, toughness over the middle, and the ability to create separation that translated quickly to the NFL. Egbuka took the league by storm with a red-hot start, with over 400 yards and four touchdowns through his first five games. The talent and sky-high ceiling were immediately on display.
Evans has been the constant in Tampa Bay since being drafted in 2014. Through quarterback changes, coaching turnover, and scheme shifts, he’s been the foundation. His size and red-zone dominance made him irreplaceable for over a decade.