Round One (19): Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
Through Week 17, Emeka Egbuka led all rookies in receiving yards (930) and yards after catch (328). He was tied for second in receiving touchdowns (six), fourth in receptions (62) and fourth in yards from scrimmage (939). Egbuka, the offensive rookie of the month for the month of September, became the only player in NFL history with 25-plus receptions, 400-plus receiving yards and five-plus receiving touchdowns through five career games. He helped solidify the offense with his ball-tracking skills, ability to manipulate coverage with timing and tempo at the stem and inside-outside flexibility. Egbuka underwent the expected learning curve in the NFL mid-season with a few drops but battled through the lull and played an integral role in the team's offense to finish out the 2025 slate.
Round Two (53): Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame
Benjamin Morrison dealt with a hamstring injury in 2025 but played 359 snaps for Tampa Bay (34.39%). When Zyon McCollum landed on injured reserve, Morrison filled in on the outside. He pairs foot quickness with hip fluidity to mirror receivers and plays light on his feet for route cuts. Morrison showed promise at the catch point and the ability to get in phase downfield. Prior to McCollum's injury, Morrison rotated with Jamel Dean as a boundary corner to maximize his ability and foster development. He played in a variety of coverages at Notre Dame and translated those skills to the NFL level.
Round Three (84): Jacob Parrish, Kansas State
The Bucs' third-round selection Jacob Parrish did it all in Todd Bowles' complex defensive scheme, including learning the roles of linebacker, safety, corner and nickel. He was used interchangeably at all four and played 746 snaps for the club. Parrish helped set the tone and nabbed two interceptions, seven passes defensed, one fumble recovery, seven tackles for loss, three quarterback hits and 2.0 sacks. He made his presence felt with change-of-direction skills, twitchy quickness, effective footwork at the top of routes and physicality on the perimeter. Parrish was proficient at driving downhill in the run game and at undercutting routes over the middle of the field.
Round Five (157): Elijah Roberts, SMU
Elijah Roberts played 507 snaps for the Bucs in 2025 and made nine game starts. He amassed three passes defensed, a fumble recovery, two sacks, two tackles for loss and five quarterback hits. Roberts made an impact on the defensive front with a varied rush plan, including an effective cross-chop and arm-over. He has an effective speed-to-power conversion and the upper-body strength for extension versus blockers.
Round Seven (235): Tez Johnson, Oregon
Seventh-round pick Tez Johnson played 495 snaps (43.65%) on offense for the Bucs and he added another dimension to the offense with his electricity before and after the catch. He elevated the offense on sweeps, end-arounds and pre-snap motions with his explosive burst. Johnson showed the ability to stick his foot in the ground and fly. He was hard to get down in the open field with no wasted momentum or drop in speed at the catch point. As defenses allocated resources to Emeka Egbuka and Mike Evans, he helped add a spark when his number was called.
