{"id":1865,"date":"2026-05-27T16:06:18","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T16:06:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/orlandorelocationreport.com\/?p=1865"},"modified":"2026-05-27T16:06:18","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T16:06:18","slug":"bucs-egbuka-will-command-more-attention-with-mike-evans-gone-is-he-ready","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/orlandorelocationreport.com\/?p=1865","title":{"rendered":"Bucs\u2019 Egbuka will command more attention with Mike Evans gone. Is he ready?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The news came in a text message from quarterback Baker Mayfield, a day before the rest of the world learned that Mike Evans was leaving the Bucs to sign with the 49ers.<\/p>\n

Read more DeSantis wants to end most property taxes, calls special session for Nov. ballot question<\/a><\/p>\n

Emeka Egbuka knew what that meant. For the first time in 12 years, the Bucs would have a new No. 1 target.<\/p>\n

The Bucs\u2019 all-time leading receiver is no longer in the building at One Buc Place, yet he is everywhere.<\/p>\n

There is the 80-foot mural of Evans on the northeast corner of Raymond James Stadium. Pictures of some of his greatest catches still line the walls inside the team\u2019s training facility.<\/p>\n

Egbuka, the first-round pick from Ohio State in 2025, said he felt fortunate to play with Evans for one season even though the veteran was injured much of it. Evans battled a hamstring issue before breaking his collarbone and wound up missing nine games. He finished with a career-low 30 receptions for 368 yards and three touchdowns.<\/p>\n

Even so, Egbuka benefitted from the lessons learned from Evans, most of them not spoken but observed.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust that killer instinct, that mentality that he has, that he carries into every game. He just has a supreme sense of confidence in his ability and who he is,\u201d Egbuka said. \u201cObviously, we play a lot of big-name people. People line up across from him and see Mike Evans but he can line up on the other side and see Patrick Surtain, Jaycee Horn \u2014 all these guys.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut he never lets that faze him and he plays his brand of ball, his style of ball every single down, every single snap and he gives it his all. I think it was really less what he said to me and more about how he played the game and how he prepared.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

The question for the Bucs now is how prepared they are to play, and win, without Evans?<\/p>\n

Up-and-down rookie year<\/h4>\n

The arrival of Egbuka may have slightly influenced Evans\u2019 decision to leave the Bucs.<\/p>\n

But Tampa Bay is well-stocked at receiver.<\/p>\n

Chris Godwin returns for his 10th season, though he has battled horrific injuries such as the dislocated ankle he sustained in 2024.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

Jalen McMillan, a third-round draftee in 2024, fractured his neck making a catch in the first preseason game against Pittsburgh last year. He played in the final four games, which included a seven-catch, 114-yard performance at Miami.<\/p>\n

Tez Johnson, a seventh-round pick from Oregon, backflipped his way to five touchdowns as a rookie. The Bucs added Georgia State\u2019s Ted Hurst, a true X-receiver like Evans, from the third round of this year\u2019s draft. David Sills followed new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson from Atlanta.<\/p>\n

So, yes, the receiver room will look different.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got a lot of guys who are ready to carry torch and do what\u2019s required,\u201d Egbuka said.<\/p>\n

Read more Asking Eric: My sister is ignoring me. She did the same thing a decade ago.<\/a><\/p>\n

Egbuka caught fire to start his rookie season. Through the first five games, he had 445 yards receiving and five touchdowns. The Bucs were 5-0 and Egbuka was an early favorite for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.<\/p>\n

But injuries took their toll and the Bucs\u2019 hot start became a bleak streak. With Evans out, Egbuka drew more attention \u2014 cloud coverage and double teams.<\/p>\n

Outside of a 115-yard, one-touchdown performance in a loss to New England, Egbuka averaged just 34.4 receiving yards per game the rest of the year. He had eight drops during the season, according to Pro Football Focus.<\/p>\n

Mayfield struggled protecting the football, throwing 10 interceptions in the final 11 games as the Bucs went 3-8 in that span.<\/p>\n

\u201cI need to do a better job of catching and getting open. There\u2019s probably throws that Baker wishes he had back. Blocks the O-line wishes they had back,\u201d Egbuka said. \u201cObviously, we\u2019re trying to pick up all the pieces and figure out where we went wrong. We brought (in) some new staff. So we\u2019re looking forward to kind of honing and fixing those mistakes going forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

Life without Mike<\/h4>\n

Egbuka expects an uptick in his production this season, not unlike his sophomore year at Ohio State when he exploded for 74 receptions for 1,151 yards and 10 touchdowns.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s also settling into the community here. This offseason, he worked with USAA to make hurricane preparedness kits. Egbuka\u2019s grandfather was a Navy Seal. From the ages of 6 to 12, his father was an active-duty soldier stationed in Germany.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s definitely a new sense of comfort that you have,\u201d Egbuka said. \u201cA sense of confidence that you\u2019ve done this before, you know how to do it and you can just trust in your ability and go out there and execute.\u201d<\/p>\n

As a rookie, Egbuka was tasked with playing all four receiver positions. He\u2019ll settle in at the Z spot, commonly known as the flanker and stationed on the same side of the field as the tight end.<\/p>\n

\u201cMek, just getting to know him, it\u2019s incredible. I keep throwing the word \u2018intentional\u2019 but that\u2019s him to a T,\u201c said Robinson, the new OC. \u201dThe amount of work and preparation he puts into it, similar to Cooper Kupp in terms of the way his brain works in the game of football and the natural instincts. He doesn\u2019t have to change a thing. He\u2019s played a ton of snaps. I think Mek is going to take huge strides.\u201d<\/p>\n

Can he be like Mike? It\u2019s an unfair comparison to a future Pro Football Hall of Fame player but Egbuka is the Bucs\u2019 next rising star at receiver.<\/p>\n

\u201cNobody is feeling like they\u2019ve got to come in here and try to be Mike,\u201d receivers coach Bryan McClendon said. \u201c\u2026 The good thing is, we\u2019re very fortunate in terms of guys having been at that position before. We played a lot of games without Mike these past couple seasons.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe got a really good group in terms of people. Just their approach every single day, just how to come in, taking responsibility knowing what to do and how to do it. Maximizing every walk-through. Those guys already have good habits built in. But understand it may look a little bit different.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more Editorial: FCC content regulation raises free speech issues<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Mike Evans is the Buccaneers’ all-time leading receiver. He left for the San Francisco 49ers after 12 seasons. Second-year pro Emeka Egbuka will attempt to fill Evans’ shoes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1864,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[52,6,53],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1865","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl","category-sports","category-tampa-bay-buccaneers"],"yoast_head":"\nBucs\u2019 Egbuka will command more attention with Mike Evans gone. 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