Some were hoping for that after the Buccaneers selected Ohio State receiver Emeka Egbuka on their 19th pick in the 2025 draft Bucs were worried About availability at the start of the season for veteran receiver Chris Godwin.
If the team had such concerns, these concerns did not advance to the three-year, $66 million contract signed with the Buccaneers over the course of three years.
PFT has obtained a contract and reviewed it. There is no language about injuries. For example, none of the 2025 roster bonuses of $20.745 million on physical passes are subject to conditional. (The second and final installments are paid in six days.) No exceptions will create for injuries or worsening of related condition.
Given that Godwin had a better financial offer at the table from the Patriots, the Bucs may not have had an option. And while the Patriots eventually signed a deal with receiver Steffon, which included protecting the team against the torn ACL, diggs had no many other options. Godwin could have used the interests of the Patriots and Buccaneers to use them in transactions that did not protect the team from injuries that preceded the contract.
Still, the deal is part of important evidence against the notion that Bucs drafted Egbuka, as they are concerned about Godwin’s health. If they were fully concerned about using the first round pick with his short-term alternative, why did they commit Godwin to a $44 million guarantee?
So why is it Egbuka? Well, Mike Evans is in his 12th season and he will turn 32 in August. At some point, you need to be ready for replacement.
What’s more, Bucs doesn’t have a lot of needs for a roster with presses. They managed to take the best available players when they were on the watch. They did.
