Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield Praises Rookie WR Emeka Egbuka's 'Ownership of the Offense'
After the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' first day of mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, the players had a chance to answer questions from the media.
Advertisement
It's the first time many of the players have had a chance to work out with the rookies and the newcomers to One Buc Place.
While it's just one day, and chemistry and relationships still need to be manifested, quarterback Baker Mayfield says he's impressed with first-round draft pick Emeka Egbuka.
Mayfield was so impressed with Egbuka ahead of mandatory minicamp that he texted general manager Jason Licht to congratulate him on the pick.
He also spoke highly of Egbuka after Day 1 of Bucs' mandatory minicamp on Tuesday.
"At this point, it's the physical tools, obviously, at this level, you have to have talent, and he has that, being a first-round draft pick," Mayfield said via JP Peterson of Fan Stream Sports - Tampa Bay. "The thing that sticks out is how cerebral he is. He's so smart. Right now, I think we could probably put him in any receiver spot. I think he understands the offense that well. He's not a rookie; he doesn't act like it, at least. It's been really good to see him take that ownership; he takes it extremely serious.
Advertisement
He's in constant communication. He always wants to be sure he's in the right spot at the right time. ... It's a nice luxury to have."
Egbuka could be thrust into a meaningful role in the offense sooner than expected if Chris Godwin hasn't fully recovered from his gruesome ankle injury suffered in Week 10 last year against Baltimore.
Godwin looks like he won't be ready to play the beginning of the year, and the combination of second-year wideout Jalen McMillan and Egbuka could help pick up the slack in his absence.
Related: 'He's Pissed Off!' Buccaneers Expect Haason Reddick to Attend Mandatory Minicamp
Related: Bucs 'Starving' in 2025 per Star RB
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Phillip Rivers Calls it a Career
Phillip Rivers Calls it a Career originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Philip Rivers made it clear: his NFL journey ends where it truly began, with the Chargers. Though he last played in 2020 with the Colts, Rivers publicly confirmed on Monday what fans long assumed, announcing in a heartfelt team video, 'I'm retiring a Charger.' Rivers spent 16 years as the face of the Chargers franchise, from San Diego to Los Angeles, holding every major passing record in team history. His 137 career wins rank 10th among all NFL quarterbacks and second-most among those never to win a Super Bowl. In the emotional announcement, Rivers emphasized his gratitude. 'What I miss, and what I'm most thankful for, are the relationships,' he said, reflecting on a career defined as much by connection as by competition. The video was posted on the Chargers' social media page. "There's no one like Phil." Like many would expect, the responses were swift and emotionally charged. "As a NFL fan its hard to find a player to root for that has the same passion and intensity for the game of football as Phil," said one fan. This fan brought the emotion: "WE LOVE this so much! Forever 17! Major respect here: "256 Baby." San Diego love from this fan: "My QB. So much memories Phillip. Thank you. A true San Diego Charger." "1 of my fave players in any sport ever. rabid competitor. underrated & should be a 1st ballot Hall of Famer. a legend just for being the only football player EVER to play a game with a torn ACL. & a simple, great dude who was easy to root for. thx for everything Philip Rivers," mentioned by this commenter. More love: "Forever my quarterback." The Chargers later in the day sent out a message about their former quarterback. "The gosh darn best." Rivers threw for 63,440 yards and 421 touchdowns, ranking sixth in NFL history in both categories. He sits alongside legends like Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, and Ben Roethlisberger, each with a Super Bowl ring, a distinction that eluded him. Known for his clean but fiery trash talk, Rivers stood out in an era of brash quarterbacks. 'Some clips I look at and just shake my head. But some, I think, dang, that was fun,' he said. 'It's like being in the backyard.' One of his most iconic moments came in the 2007 AFC Championship Game. Despite tearing his ACL the week before, Rivers played the full game against the Patriots. The Chargers lost, but Rivers' toughness became legend. The team's president, John Spanos, highlighted Rivers' legacy: 'He's one of the most important players in this franchise's history. It's what he did on and off the field, how he carried himself, and the success we had while he was here.' Rivers entered the league in the famed 2004 NFL Draft. Originally selected by the New York Giants, he was traded on draft day for No. 1 pick Eli Manning. While Manning won two Super Bowls with the Giants, Rivers went on to have a Hall-of-Fame-caliber run with the Chargers. He began as Drew Brees' backup but took over as the starter in 2006 and never missed another game. He started 252 straight, including playoffs — a streak only rivaled by legends of the game. 'Sixteen years. I never took that for granted,' Rivers said. 'They trusted me to be the quarterback. I'm forever thankful.' This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 22, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
16 hours ago
- USA Today
Oklahoma Sooners land two on best-ever list from Fox Sports
Fox Sports continued its list of the best college football players to ever wear each number this week, ranking No.'s 26-50, and two former Oklahoma football players cracked the ranking. After quarterback Baker Mayfield, No. 6, made the initial list of No. 1 through No. 25, running back Adrian Peterson and safety Rickey Dixon made the second iteration of Fox Sports' look-back. Peterson, who finished second in Heisman Trophy voting after his first year with Oklahoma, was named the best college player to ever don No. 28. During that season, Peterson rushed for 100-plus yards in his first nine games. He set the NCAA record for most 100-yard games by a freshman with 11, all while helping lead the Sooners to a 12-1 record and finishing second in the Heisman Trophy voting. - Fox Sports Peterson ranks fourth in school history in yards rushing with 4,045 over his three seasons. He left Norman after his junior year and was selected seventh overall by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2007 NFL Draft. Peterson won NFL Most Valuable Player honors in 2012, running for 2,097 yards, and finished his professional career with 14,918 yards, ranking fifth all-time. Dixon wore No. 29 for the Sooners from 1984-87, patrolling the defensive backfield before playing six seasons in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals and Atlanta Falcons. He was a key part of the Oklahoma Sooners' 1985 national championship team. He was a three-time All-Big 8 selection, was a consensus All-American and won the Jim Thorpe award back in 1987. Sooners who made honorable mention on the list were No. 36 Steve Owens, No. 38 Roy Williams, and No. 44 Brian Bosworth.
NBC Sports
19 hours ago
- NBC Sports
Baker Mayfield: Every other team wanted me to tone it down, Bucs want me to be myself
The Buccaneers are Baker Mayfield's fourth NFL team. And he says there's no question that Tampa Bay is the right place for him. Mayfield said on Jason and Travis Kelce's New Heights podcast that in his four years with the Browns, plus his brief stints with the Panthers and Rams, his teams wanted him to change. But Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht and head coach Todd Bowles told him from the beginning that they wanted him to be who he is. 'This isn't to shit on the other teams and franchises, but when you step in and your GM and your head coach say, 'Hey, just be you,' after I've been told at every stop and everywhere I go, 'You need to tone it down a little bit, you need to be a franchise quarterback.' It's just not who I am,' Mayfield said. 'I wear my emotions on my sleeves. I'm gonna talk shit, I'm going to do whatever, but when it's time to turn the lights on and go do something I'm going to do it. So when I stepped into the building they all told me to just be myself.' Mayfield has played his best football in Tampa Bay, raising questions about what might have been in Cleveland, if only the Browns had done what the Buccaneers have done, and encouraged him to be who he is.
