Prediction Has $18 Million Buccaneers First Round Pick Fighting For WR3 Spot

“How far along Chris Godwin is in his recovery from the dislocated ankle that prematurely ended his 2024 campaign plays a factor in what Egbuka’s role in the Bucs’ offense will be early on,” Holder wrote on July 9. “Ideally, Godwin is ready to go during training camp, and Egbuka takes on the WR3 role. However, second-year pro Jalen McMillan finished last season strong and racked up eight touchdowns, while nine-year veteran Sterling Shepard will also provide some competition for the rookie.”

McMillan Caught Fire Late In Rookie Season

McMillan, a third round pick (No. 92 overall) out of Washington in the 2024 NFL draft, had 37 receptions for 461 yards and 8 touchdowns as a rookie but also missed 4 games with injuries.

Few NFL wide receivers were on a heater like McMillan was to close out the 2024 regular season with 7 touchdowns over the final 5 games — one of the longest consecutive touchdown reception streaks for a rookie in NFL history.

McMillan battled injuries his final season at Washington in 2023 and took a backseat to fellow wide receiver Rome Odunze, who had a breakout year and ended up selected No. 9 overall by the Chicago Bears.

Just one year earlier, McMillan probably would have been the one selected in the first round after he had 79 receptions for 1,098 yards and 9 touchdowns in just 13 games in 2022.

Shepard played with Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield at the University of Oklahoma in 2015 and spent the first 8 seasons of his career with the New York Giants, where he signed a 4-year, $41 million contract extension in April 2019.

Shepard signed a 1-year, $1.37 million contract with the Tampa Bay on June 6, 2024, but the Buccaneers released the 9-year NFL veteran on August 26 and signed him to the practice squad on August 28. Shepard was elevated from the practice squad before Week 3 against the Denver Broncos and put on the active roster before Week 5 against the Atlanta Falcons.

Shepard finished 2024 with 32 receptions for 334 yards and 1 touchdown in 14 games.

Egbuka Led Ohio State To CFP National Title

Egbuka is coming off a dominant final season in which he helped lead Ohio State to a College Football Playoff National Championship.

In 4 seasons with the Buckeyes, Egbuka had 2 seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards on a stacked roster. That included 81 receptions for 1,011 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2024 while playing opposite potential future No. 1 overall pick and freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.

Egbuka signed a 4-year, $18.1 million rookie contract with the Buccaneers.

“Fluid athlete with good size and quality ball skills who works primarily from the slot,” NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein wrote. “Egbuka runs his routes with tempo and pace …  Egbuka projects as an early starter at slot for teams running heavy amounts of three-wideout sets.”