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Emeka Egbuka to Settle into "Z" Role in Year 2
New Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Zac Robinson said that second-year wide receiver Emeka Egbuka will settle into the "Z" role primarily on the outside in 2026 after playing multiple spots as a rookie in 2025, according to Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com. Egbuka, the 19th overall pick in 2025 out of Ohio State, bounced around inside and outside in his first year in the NFL due to injuries to Mike Evans, Chris Godwin Jr., and Jalen McMillan. The 23-year-old now figures to mostly play outside this year, though, with Evans now in San Francisco. Third-round rookie Ted Hurst is more of a "true X" wideout, which will allow the Bucs to use Egbuka on the outside more, with Godwin in the slot. The 23-year-old Egbuka was a best in his first five NFL games, catching 25 passes for 445 yards and five touchdowns, but he caught just one more TD the rest of the way and dealt with a hamstring injury to finish his rookie campaign with a 63-938-6 line in 17 games (13 starts). With Evans now gone, Egbuka will have an opportunity to rise as Tampa's WR1 in 2026 and beyond, making him a top-12 dynasty receiver.
Source: Buccaneers.com - Scott Smith
Source: Buccaneers.com - Scott Smith
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