Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie huge receiver Emeka Egbuka previously talked about how he rapidly discovered mentors in quarterback Baker Mayfield and veteran wideout Sterling Shepard this previous spring.
Now taking part in an NFL coaching camp for the primary time, Egbuka spoke with reporters on Monday about how fellow receiver Chris Godwin Jr. helps the first-round draft choose find out about life within the execs.
“He is been an absolute godsend to me,” Egbuka mentioned about Godwin, per the Buccaneers’ website. “On the sideline, staying in my ear always — whether or not it is route-running, approach or blocking approach, savviness or studying the playbook, regardless of the case could also be. Even when it is nearly life, I can ask him any query and I am attending to know him personally as nicely. We’re turning into actually shut buddies, and I do not suppose I may’ve been drafted to a greater workforce, higher state of affairs.”
Godwin is spending the summer time recovering from the dislocated left ankle, excessive ankle sprain, fractured fibula and torn deltoid that he suffered in October 2024. Whereas he agreed to a three-year, $66M contract with $45M assured to stick with the Buccaneers throughout the offseason, the truth that Tampa Bay made Egbuka the nineteenth number of this yr’s draft understandably brought on some to marvel what Godwin will and will not be this fall.
It remains unclear if Godwin will have the ability to play in Tampa Bay’s regular-season opener on the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 7.
Additionally on Monday, the Buccaneers reworked Mayfield’s contract through a transfer that primarily ensures he’ll be with the group by means of no less than the 2026 season. As of Tuesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had Tampa Bay tied for seventh among the many betting favorites at +1300 odds to signify the NFC in Tremendous Bowl LX.
Egbuka turning into considerably of a security blanket for Mayfield may bolster a passing assault that could be with out Godwin for as much as 4 video games if he begins September on the bodily unable to carry out record. In response to the JoeBucsFan web site, Godwin hasn’t been sporting his observe jersey throughout coaching camp classes.
“It is coming alongside nice,” Egbuka mentioned about constructing chemistry with Mayfield. “Clearly, he is a seasoned veteran and is aware of what he’s speaking about, so it is nearly being on the identical web page with him. I believe quite a lot of that chemistry comes from me realizing what I am doing. Studying the playbook, realizing each spot so he can know that I will be the place I am anticipated to be at any given second and over time as he is watching movie and we’re watching movie and we’re creating that chemistry, he’ll have the ability to belief me an increasing number of.”
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