Expectations For Buccaneers Rookies As They Report To Training Camp

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Training Camp starts today, Wednesday July 22nd. This is the official start of training camp which means the NFL season is underway. It is an exciting season with big expectations, especially for this rookie class. 

The Bucs were praised for having one of the best drafts in the NFL and now we will get our first real look at them. Many of these players are expected to compete for starting jobs. All of them will have a chance to play a meaningful role for the team this year.

So this is the time to go on the record. What exactly do we expect from this rookie class and what do we think they can do. Here are my Buccaneers 2025 rookie expectations.

Emeka Egbuka

With Chris Godwin recovering from injury, there is an opportunity to step in and be the number two wide receiver opposite Mike Evans. This is a competition that will come down to two guys; second year receiver Jalen McMillan and Emeka Egbuka. 

McMillan finished last season strong. He only had 461 yards, but he was critical down the stretch as he scored 8 touchdowns as a rookie. Logic might say that he is the favorite to win this job.

To quote Lee Corso, “Not so fast, my friend”. 

Egbuka comes into camp NFL ready as a polished route runner with a bulked up frame that is ready for contact. There should be a minimal transition to this level of play and I expect him to hit the ground running. At this point, I trust Egbuka more to make the tough over the middle catches that Godwin made a name for himself making.

I expect Egbuka to keep that job all year. Even when Godwin returns to health, I anticipate Egbuka still getting more targets as he develops trust with Baker Mayfield. I’m expecting 1,000 yards and 8 touchdowns as a rookie and a dark horse candidate to be offensive rookie of the year.

Benjamin Morrison

This is the guy that many people are most excited about. Benjamin Morrison is certainly one of the most interesting rookies around the league. His coverage skills and ability to take the ball away warranted a first round pick.

Everyone sees Morrison as a future starter and to a degree they are right. He will be an important piece and starter for this team in the future. However, I’m not sure that happens out of camp.

Both Zyon McCollum and Jamel Dean are quality starters. And while neither is perfect, both will be very difficult to unseat. That means Morrison probably enters the regular season as a backup. 

Despite this, I expect Morrison to see significant playing time. If he can play well when called upon and reel in two or three interceptions then I’d call that a very successful year.

Jacob Parrish

Perhaps no one has a more clear path to a starting job than Jacob Parrish. With Tykee Smith moving to the full time safety, that leaves an opening for the starting nickel job. A competition between Parrish and third year veteran Christian Izien.

Why I like Parrish in this role is because of what Izein is asked to do. He’s the primary backup for both safety spots, so starting at another position would be asking a lot. Instead he can be a backup for all the jobs and contribute situationally.

Parrish should thrive in the nickel role. He has great speed to keep up with smaller receivers, but is also very physical to play in the box. Make no mistake, he was drafted to take this job.

Look for him to make an impact right away. Although he wasn’t known as a ballhawk in college, his speed and ability to break on the ball should put him in position to get a pick or two. Look for him to rack up around 70 tackles to go with that as a very solid rookie starter.

David Walker

David Walker was everybody’s favorite day three edge rusher going into the draft. His college tape was dominant and he has the tools to step in and contribute right away. The Buccaneers were lucky to get him where they did.

With that said, I wouldn’t put the bar too high for him in 2025. With Haason Reddick, Yaya Diaby, Anthony Nelson and Chris Braswell ahead of him on the depth chart it will be hard to get onto the field. It’s a crowded room and it will be hard for a rookie to stand out.

In reality, his impact will likely come mostly on special teams this year. That’s not to say he doesn’t have promise as a pass rusher, but he will have to work his way up the ladder. If Walker gets 2.5 sacks this year then we should all be pretty happy with that.

Elijah Roberts

The Bucs have one of the best defensive line duos in the NFL in Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey. Obviously, the team will want those two on the field as much as possible. However, they still need quality depth behind those guys.

Elijah Roberts has a chance to be the primary backup behind Kancey and Logan Hall. He has a power profile that should do well in run defense and he was a very productive and versatile pass rusher in college. Todd Bowles should be able to move him around and maximize his talents.

Looks for Roberts to be an important part of the defensive line rotation. Holding the point off attack and taking advantage of one on one situations as a pass rusher will be what I’m expecting. Look for in the ball park of 20 total tackles and 2.0 sacks this year.

Tez Johnson

There might not be a more talented room in the NFL than the Buccaneers wide receiver room. With Evans, Godwin, McMillan and Egbuka set in stone as the top four, that leaves everyone else clawing for a roster spot. Tez Johnson will be one of those guys trying to find a place at the bottom of the depth chart.

The thing he needs to do to stick on this roster is contribute on special teams. At 155 lbs, that likely won’t come in the form of a gunner where he races down field to make tackles. Johnson needs to make an impact as a return man. 

I expect he’ll be able to do that as well as make a few splash plays as a gadget player on offense. If he can stick on the roster and contribute in those ways then that’s all you can hope for with Johnson.

Undrafted guys

JJ Roberts is someone who I like to make the final 53. He is very fast and physical and would make an excellent special teams player. With a need at backup safety I believe Roberts takes that job and makes an impact with the Buccaneers this year.

Desmond Watson took the world by storm in the pre-draft process. He is just so incredibly big and equally easy to root for. I don’t expect him to make the roster, but I believe he will get a practice squad job in Tampa.

Shilo Sanders is very much in the same situation as Roberts. There is a job to be won at the backup safety spot and Sanders has the physical tools to be a good special teams play. I like Roberts more, but I’d bet that Sanders sticks around on the practice squad.

Jake Majors has a chance to make the team. It will be an open competition for the backup center job and he has more experience at the position than those he’s competing with. I’m not convinced that he’ll win the job, but Majors should land on the Bucs practice squad if not another roster as a backup.

Benjamin Chukwuma is incredibly raw. I see no pathway to the 53 man roster. The Buccaneers gave him a nice payday as an undrafted free agent, so I would expect they try to develop him on the practice squad.