Bucs select Ohio State receiver Emeka Egbuka in 1st round of NFL draft
Published in Football
TAMPA, Fla. — Todd Bowles wasn’t kidding. He said he would not bypass a great offensive player to fill a need on defense.
Mike Evans will be 32 in August. Chris Godwin is 29 and coming off a dislocated ankle.
So, with the 19th overall pick, the Bucs on Thursday selected Ohio State receiver Emeka Egbuka.
The 6-foot-1, 202-pound Egbuka led the national champion Buckeyes with 81 receptions for 1,011 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. He set a school record with 205 career receptions.
“This guy is going to be a great slot (receiver),” former Alabama coach Nick Saban said on ESPN. “He’s not flashy. ... This guy is a mature, intelligent player and very reliable in terms of making plays.”
The Bucs took Egbuka even with several top defensive players still available, including Marshall edge rusher Mike Green and Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell.
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