“More Explosive Than I Was Giving Him Credit For”

Ponder for moment that Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht invested a first-round pick into rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka, a premium draft choice the Bucs were ecstatic to make. And now Licht evaluates Egbuka higher than he did two months ago.

Damn.

That’s downright scary.

Receivers like Egbuka chosen at No. 19 overall are guys clubs expect to be Pro Bowlers and No. 1 receivers.

The Jaguars picked stud receiver Brian Thomas at No. 23 overall last season. Dude was in the Pro Bowl and has All-Pro talent.

The Chiefs traded up to grab receiver Xavier Worthy at No. 28 overall. The 49ers’ receiver pick at No. 31 overall Ricky Pearsall recovered well from getting shot in the chest at close range to finish last season looking like a No. 1 receiver. That’s likely the role he’ll fill for San Francisco this season.

Is Egbuka a No. 1 receiver?

The Bucs don’t need him to be, but if he’s not of that caliber, then a major mistake was made.

Licht is very confident Egbuka is more than worthy of his draft status.

“I think he’s a little bit more explosive than I was giving him credit for, too, just now seeing him live every day,” Licht said of Egbuka while visiting Sports Day Tampa Bay.

Licht added that while Egubka was a safe pick in the team’s draft board at No. 19, Licht doesn’t like the word “safe” because it implies that talent might be lacking. And he said that’s not the case at all.

Joe doesn’t want to hear chatter about the Bucs drafting a No. 2 receiver midway through the first round. It’s too nauseating a concept.

Hopefully everyone at One Buc Palace views Evans, Godwin and Egbuka as No. 1 receivers — and they deliver as such.