Bucs QB Baker Mayfield breaks down what could make rookie WR a future standout

Expect him to make more big plays during the regular season. Mayfield said Egbuka's mind could help him become one of the league's best wideouts in an interview with Yahoo Sports' Caroline Fenton. 

"Obviously, a guy being drafted in the first round, you have to have the physical talent, but that's not what separates him," Mayfield said. "I mean, he's got all the talent in the world. But upstairs, the mental aspect of it, he's a smart cookie."

Egbuka's football IQ was on full display when the Buckeyes beat the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 34-23 in last season's College Football Playoff National Championship.

Egbuka told Ohio State coaches they should have fellow WR Jeremiah Smith run a go route against Notre Dame cornerback Christian Gray because it was a matchup the team could exploit. The Buckeyes heeded his advice, tossing a 56-yard pass to Smith late in the fourth quarter, sealing the game. 

Considering the WR thinks like a coach, it shouldn't be surprising he already has a grip on the Buccaneers playbook. 

"He knows the offense, and this is not an easy one to learn, but he can plug and play any receiver spot for us right now, which is a great attribute to have," Mayfield said. "We've been through years that you lose guys in the middle of the season. It's the nature of the game. So him being able to be a guy that's versatile and help us out wherever, it's huge."

In October 2024, Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin suffered a season-ending ankle injury during a loss to the Baltimore Ravens. It's unclear whether the one-time Pro Bowler will be ready for the regular-season opener against the Atlanta Falcons. 

With that in mind, it's good for Tampa that Egbuka already seems ready to step in and thrive.