Going into the 2025 draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had many needs on the defensive side of the ball. After all, the defense cost them the playoff game against Washington and other games during the season. So, what do the Bucs do?
They draft a wide receiver with their first selection in the NFL draft. Everyone had thought the Bucs would go defense with the first pick, considering that is where the most significant needs were.
But this was not just any wide receiver. This was one of the top receivers in the country. Emeka Egbuka from Ohio State was the Buccaneers’ choice at nineteenth overall. Egbuka, a three-year starter for the Buckeyes, primarily played in the slot. He finished his OSU career with the most receptions in Buckeyes history with 205, and second all-time in receiving yards with 2,868. The 6-foot-1, 202-pound stud joins a talented receiver room already loaded with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan, and Sterling Sheppard.
On day two of the NFL draft, the Buccaneers improved their defense by adding two cornerbacks – Benjamin Morrison from Notre Dame and Jacob Parrish from Kansas State. Both of these cornerbacks should help the Buccaneers immediately after the secondary was repeatedly torched in 2024. The Bucs had just seven interceptions last season.
Morrison talked about what he brings to the Bucs defense: “I think, for me, a lot of it is intellectual from the neck up. Also my athletic abilities, the understanding in the league, things happen faster, guys are bigger. But I think at every level I’ve done a good job adapting to the play style.”
Parish brings his 4.35 speed to the Buccaneers and is the ballhawk that Todd Bowles desperately wanted in the secondary. He is a good run defender and will not avoid contact. He is also an excellent tackler. In three seasons at Kansas State, Parrish started 24 games, had 108 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, five interceptions, and 19 pass breakups. If Parish wins the starting cornerback job, Tykee Smith will be moved exclusively to safety.
The Buccaneers came into this draft looking for help in the secondary. Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish appear to have filled that need for the Buccaneers.
Day three saw the Buccaneers add an edge rusher for some defensive line help. With their first selection on day three, the Buccaneers selected edge rusher David Walker from Central Arkansas. Walker dominated for the Bears, collecting 39 sacks, 82.5 tackles for loss, 244 tackles total, six forced fumbles, and eight passes defended.
Mike Biehl, Tampa Bay’s VP of Player Personal, talked about Walker’s domination at the collegiate level: “His production, not only sacks but TFLs and tackles, the guy was just dominant on that level of competition. Sometimes you worry about the lower level of competition, but he goes to the Senior Bowl, and he was dominant there, too, going against some of the best linemen in the country. He plays so dang hard; that’s just going to be part of his calling card, too, which we love.”
The Bucs strengthened their defense in the sixth round by selecting Elijah Roberts, an edge rusher from SMU. Roberts collected 17.5 sacks in the last two seasons at SMU and constantly pressured the quarterback. Roberts joins a strong defensive line in Tampa, which includes Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey.
With their final selection in this year’s NFL draft, the Buccaneers returned to the offensive side of the ball, drafting wide receiver Tez Johnson from Oregon. Johnson is an explosive receiver who finished his career at Oregon with 3,889 receiving yards, 28 touchdowns, and 310 receptions. Johnson joins one of the best wide receiver rooms in the NFL, as mentioned earlier.
The Buccaneers have gotten accolades from many across the NFL for their 2025 draft. Not only did they address the defensive side of the ball, but what surprised everyone was that they drafted two outstanding receivers who should contribute immediately to this offense.
The Buccaneers are a better team today than they were 10 days ago. And that should make for a fun football season at Raymond James Stadium this fall.