Bucs Rookie Draws Lofty Comparison to $140M Superstar

It seems like at least one rookie receiver has exploded onto the scene in each of the past few years. Several young superstars have joined the NFL since 2020, including Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, Puka Nacua, Malik Nabers, and more. But, who will join them as the breakout star of 2025? Jacob Robinson of The Athletic believes that Bucs rookie Emeka Egbuka has the potential for a “Jefferson-like” rookie season.

Analyst Provides 3 Main Reasons to Compare Bucs Rookie to Justin Jefferson

Over the past five seasons, six rookies have finished in the top 10 in receiving yards. Three of those came in 2024, as Brian Thomas, Malik Nabers and Ladd McConkey all racked up over 1,100 yards.

With a fresh crop of rookie receivers to choose from, Jacob Robinson of The Athletic believes that Buccaneers rookie Emeka Egbuka will be the next to join the list. More importantly, though, Robinson sees three main similarities to compare the rookie to superstar Justin Jefferson.

The first reason stems from the teammates who overshadowed them during their final college seasons. Justin Jefferson excelled as a junior, leading the FBS in receptions (111). But, Ja’Marr Chase outperformed Jefferson and everyone in college football with 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns.

“Egbuka’s 2024 was clouded by Jeremiah Smith, a similar talent and Dane Brugler’s top receiver in college football,” Robinson wrote.

Next, Robinson noted that Jeremiah Smith’s emergence “pushed Egbuka to the slot.” Justin Jefferson experienced a similar shift during his time at LSU, as Robinson noted that “98.6 percent of his snaps came there.”

Thirdly, Robinson noted that while LSU embraced a more pass-heavy offense, “Jefferson and Egbuka averaged an identical 2.6 yards per route run in their final college season.”

He finished by comparing their measurables:

• Jefferson: 6-foot-1, 202 pounds with a 4.43 40-yard dash, 37.5-inch vertical and 33-inch arms.
• Egbuka: 6-foot-1, 202 pounds with a 4.48 40-yard dash, 38-inch vertical and 31-inch arms.

While it’s easy to see the similarities now, we will have to see how Egbuka performs against professional secondaries. Luckily for us, we may see the rookie serve as a starter right away.

Emeka Egbuka Should Play an Even Bigger Role Than Jalen McMillan Did in 2024

The Buccaneers shocked some pundits this April when they selected star Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka at No. 19 overall. But, with aging stars and injuries in their receiver room, it makes perfect sense in hindsight.

He drew comparisons to Ladd McConkey and Keenan Allen during the pre-draft process, so that should tell you that scouts saw great potential in the rookie. After a strong offseason and preseason, The Athletic‘s Jacob Robinson is already comparing him to Justin Jefferson.

That may sound crazy, considering he hasn’t played a single game yet. But, when you look at Jalen McMillan’s emergence toward the end of last season, there’s a pathway to high-level production.

Last season, veterans Chris Godwin and Mike Evans both dealt with injuries, including a season-ending leg injury for Godwin in Week 7. So, it was up to rookie Jalen McMillan to step up in their place.

Despite a slow start, in which he only recorded 13 catches for 145 yards and one touchdown, McMillan didn’t disappoint. Between Week 14 and 18, McMillan recorded 24 catches for 316 yards and seven touchdowns.

While it’s far from Justin Jefferson-like in terms of catches and yards, he still recorded over 13 yards per reception and had a nose for the end zone.

Following Jalen McMillan’s injury on Saturday, which head coach Todd Bowles called a “severely strained neck,” he will be out for at least the season opener. He hasn’t been placed on injured reserve, though, so his timeline to return is still unclear.

As for Chris Godwin, the timeline for his return remains unclear, as well. The most recent update from the Buccaneers is that the veteran receiver is “still completing his return.” Buccaneers Senior Writer/Editor Scott Smith didn’t rule out that Godwin could be placed on the reserve/PUP list, which would cost him the first four games of the season.