Buccaneers GM: Egbuka was 'top 10' on our draft board

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers added to a position of strength when they selected receiver Emeka Egbuka with the 19th overall pick, and general manager Jason Licht insisted he couldn't afford to pass up on the Ohio State product.

"We had made a decision there was a group of players that we talked about that we thought could be there at 19," Licht said on the "Rich Eisen Show" on Wednesday. "Emeka was one of them, and we had made the decision that no matter how many of that group of players that we coveted at that pick (were still) there, we were just going to take him."

Licht mentioned the front office had Egbuka ranked much higher than the Buccaneers' draft slot, making it an easy decision.

"Great player," Licht noted. "He was super high on our board. Top 10 on our board. Kind of stood out like a sore thumb. Unbelievable character, football character."

"It was just clear he was a cut ahead of the players at that point in the draft," Licht added.

Egbuka joins a Tampa Bay receiving room that also features Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan, Sterling Shepard, and Trey Palmer. Godwin is recovering from a dislocated ankle that prematurely ended his 2024 season.