Emeka Egbuka Draft Pick Had Nothing to Do With Chris Godwin Injury Rehab, Bucs GM Says

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ selection of Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka at No. 19 in the 2025 NFL draft “had nothing to do” with Chris Godwin’s rehabilitation process, general manager Jason Licht said.

"Chris is still on track; we’re still shooting for Week 1 with him," Licht said, per Scott Smith of the Buccaneers website. "This had nothing really to do with Chris’ injury rehab right now. This had everything to do with [the fact that] he was a player that Todd [Bowles] and I said, at the end of the day, if this guy was here, we were going to take him and we’re going to be happy with it."

Godwin dislocated his ankle during the Buccaneers’ Week 7 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, an injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the season. Despite the setback, Tampa Bay showed its commitment by re-signing him to a three-year, $66 million deal in March.

Godwin, 29, is expected to be ready by Week 1 of the season, where he’ll line up alongside the Buccaneers’ newest addition, rookie Egbuka.

Instead of aiming to replace their eight-season veteran, the Buccaneers viewed the pick as a move that balanced both their future and immediate needs, especially with injuries factoring into the decision.

“We felt this was a pick for the future but also for the present,” Licht said, per Smith. “You saw what happened last year. We had some injuries and the coaches did a great job with what we had, but [now we’re] adding another great receiver. Todd has said all along, I think he told you guys back in March that a good offense can help a defense. It’s about scoring points."

Out of Ohio State, Egbuka tallied 1,011 receiving yards on 81 catches with 10 touchdowns as a key contributor on the Buckeyes' national championship squad.