GENERAL MANAGER JASON LICHT

(On why Licht liked Tampa Bay's first-round selection, WR Emeka Egbuka)

"Well, there's a lot to like about him. First of all, we didn't have him in for a visit because there were no questions we had with him. We met with him at the combine and we know a lot about him just over the years…He's a true pro, mature beyond his years, perfectionist, he's been in a great program with a great wide receivers coach, in a great [wide receivers] room – there's a lot of lineage there that he takes a lot of pride in. He stayed this year so he could help the young guys [and] continue with the lineage of Ohio State receivers. [There is] a lot to love about him, and then, on top of it, he's a really good player. We're really excited to have him – he's our type of guy."

(On the decision to draft a wide receiver despite having a strong wide receiver room already)

"We felt this was a pick for the future, but also for the present. You saw what happened last year – we had some injuries and the coaches did a great job with what we had, but adding another great [wide] receiver…Todd [Bowles] has said all along, I think he told you guys back in March, 'A good offense can help a defense.' It's about scoring points. It's exciting to add him to the mix. We've got 'J-Mac' (Jalen McMillan) and [Emeka] now for the future, but also the present, and then, still, we have an elite room with Chris [Godwin] and Mike [Evans]. Chris is still on track, we're still shooting for Week 1 with him. This had nothing to do, really, with Chris's injury rehab right now; this had everything to do with [the fact that] he was a player that Todd [Bowles] and I, and our staffs – obviously, we had a lot of meetings – but Todd and I, at the end of the day, we had some players and said, 'If this player is here, we're going to take him and we're going to be happy with him.'"

(On how the team will rotate its top four receivers when primarily utilizing a three wide receiver lineup)

"Well, there is rotation, as well, too. We can play with four wide receivers, as well. There [are] a lot of things that 'Grizz' (Offensive Coordinator Josh Grizzard) is licking his chops about right now. You can't have too many good ones."

(On WR Emeka Egbuka's leadership and character)

"You can't find anybody to say anything bad about this guy, in terms of his leadership, his commitment, his passion, his accountability…It's all top notch. In fact, we have a football character grade and he's the highest of the high. That, on top of being a great player, is something that we're very proud of."

(On how he envisions adding Egbuka to an offense that was already top five in virtually every category last season)

"Yeah, I had some dreams last night about it. He's a very versatile guy – he can play all three positions and we like that about him. We spent a lot of time last week talking to [wide receivers] Coach [Bryan] McClendon about it. He's very smart, so he's going to be a quick study. Added to 'J-Mac' (Jalen McMillan), who we love, and then Mike [Evans] and Chris [Godwin], who are elite, it's going to be fun to watch. It's going to be fun to see how it works out."

(On if Egbuka reminds him of WR Chris Godwin)

"[He] does. That came up multiple times. That's definitely a plus."

(On if there were opportunities to trade up or down out of pick No. 19)

"Yeah. We always kind of chart it out, what the scenarios are going to be. He was a player that we said, 'It doesn't matter, we're going to take [him].' We wouldn't want to lose out on [him] trading back to pick up a third- or fourth-round pick, which are very valuable, but also, how would we feel if somebody took him? To be honest with you, I'd probably be throwing up. We're glad that we got him."

(On WR Emeka Egbuka's run-blocking abilities and how that factored into the decision)

"Well, it's a huge plus. It's a bonus. His overall game is what we liked. If a guy can't block, it's really a detriment, but we're not going to draft him where we took him just because he's a good blocker. It's obviously a huge bonus."

(On if the decision to take an offensive player speaks to his confidence in Tampa Bay's ability to find quality defensive players in later rounds)

"Yeah. Obviously, we'll see how that turns out. I just felt like, with him, it was too good to pass up. It was kind of the perfect pick where, like I said before, it helps us now and it really helps us in the future."

(On if Licht has talked with QB Baker Mayfield about the pick)

"I texted him right away and said, 'You're going to like this one.' Then, he texted back something [laughs] and then asked for his number. I'm sure they're talking right now."

(On if Licht considered drafting a defensive player at No. 19)

"We went through all of those scenarios and painstakingly did it over the last month…If these guys are sitting here, who is it going to be? With Todd [Bowles] I'd go over it every day with him, text him late at night…Well, he's more of an early morning [guy], I don't text him at three o'clock in the morning. He's insane. Maniac. So, we go through all of these scenarios – 'If these four players are here, if this position group is here, are you still okay with him being the top?' I wouldn't do it if he wasn't okay with it, and he was."

(On if there were any surprises in the first 18 picks of the NFL Draft on Thursday)

"No. Really, after so long, nothing really shocks you. It went pretty [smoothly]. Yeah."

(On if the amount of depth at the edge rusher position in the draft gives him confidence that he can address the position later on)

"I'll be honest with you, our depth at edge rusher gives me comfort. I'm not saying that we won't address that, but I like [our depth]. I've said it before, I think Chris Braswell Jr. has a big future still, we obviously signed Haason Reddick, I think Yaya [Diaby] is going to have a huge year, we love Anthony Nelson…Then, we have some young guys like Jose [Ramirez] who still has an upside. I don't think it's as dire as people make it out to be. I think we're going to be a lot better rushing the passer this year."

(On if he's talked to wide receivers Mike Evans or Chris Godwin about the pick)

"I haven't had a chance to do anything."

(On if the Buccaneers going 0-4 during a stretch where they suffered numerous injuries to wide receivers in the 2024 season impacted the decision to draft WR Emeka Egbuka)

"100%."

WIDE RECEIVER EMEKA EGBUKA

(On what conversations he had with any Buccaneers staff at the NFL Draft Combine and how much of their interest he saw during those)

"I was recruited by the wide receivers coach (Bryan McClendon) kind of while I was in high school when he was bouncing around and spent some time in the college space, so I knew him from way back when I was 15-16 years old. We were able to reminisce on some of those times. In the meeting I had at the combine with the Bucs, we were kind of just getting to know each other, also talked a little bit of ball, watched a little bit of film. I have very fond memories of it. It was a great time and I'm excited to be a part of the team."

(On his thoughts about playing with QB Baker Mayfield)

"[He's a] Heisman winner. There are not too many people who have that achievement and he's done great things as well in the league. He's had successful receivers all the way around him so I'm just excited to be able to learn and to grow with him at the helm of everything I'm doing [with] a seasoned vet like he is. We were able to talk briefly. He texted me here shortly after I got drafted so it's just good to know that he's excited with the pick as well and I just can't wait to get to work."

(On what QB Baker Mayfield texted him once he got drafted by Tampa Bay)

"He was just saying how excited he was to get me on board and I feel the exact same way. I'm ready to start working and I can't wait to be down there."

(On what it means to be joining a room of wide receivers that includes Chris Godwin and Mike Evans and how it feels to be compared to them)

"Chris and Mike, they've done it at a very high level for a very long time which is something that I'm looking to doing in my NFL career as well so I think just being able to learn from them – just the ins and outs of NFL football and just to pick their brains on stuff… I'm a student of the game. I love learning about it, so having those guys in the same room with me is a blessing. I'm super glad to be a part of it, and then other young guys like Jalen McMillan – he grew up in California but he played for a Washington 7-on-7 team so I've known him since I was in high school as well. We've been friends for a long time, so just watching him do his thing at 'U-Dub' (University of Washington) and now I get to join him as a teammate is going to be really fun. [It's an] amazing wide receiver room."

(On how he would describe his game and how he thinks he will fit into Tampa Bay's offense)

"I think I'm going to fit in great. I think that the coaches think I'm going to fit in great which is why they decided to draft me tonight. I'm just really looking forward to all the ways that they're going to use me and allow me to help the team. I think, if I had to describe my skillset, I would say [I'm] one who's super reliable, going to be at the right place at the right time. I feel very confident with the ball in my hands as well as making every catch that's asked of me. I've never felt like there was a ball in the air that I couldn't track or was a difficult catch so having a quarterback to be able to put it up and just trust you, which I know Baker [Mayfield] can do… I'm just really excited to get started."

(On what the phone call was like when he found out he was getting drafted by the Buccaneers)

"I was just like, I don't know. I was watching the screen and then I was holding my phone in my hand and it started buzzing. The dots didn't click right away and then I looked down and I see the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on my phone so I answered the call. My mom started freaking out. She started saying, 'Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh.' And then my dad is yelling, so it was a very high-octane moment but it was a feeling like no other."

(On where the Buccaneers were on his radar as a team that would take him going into draft night)

"Yeah, I knew that, from my meetings in [Indianapolis] that everything had gone really well. I felt comfortable with the coaching staff and I knew that I felt like I did a good job in my interviews and they were impressed with me as well. I think it was just a great fit. Coming up, when the pick was rolling, it was in the back of my mind that they could be looking to go [for a] wide receiver and I feel like I was the best one on the board. They felt the same way and it was a match made in happen."

(On what it feels like to be a part of the group of wide receivers at Ohio State University and how well they were coached there)

"Year in and year out, you guys see it. I think this makes six straight first-round Ohio [State] receivers. I wouldn't be surprised if it was seven or eight next year, so I think that we recruit like-minded individuals, people who want to win, who are uber competitive and we push each other to the highest limit. I came into a receiver room with Chris [Olave], Garrett [Wilson], Jaxon [Smith-Njigba], Jameson Williams, Marvin Harrison Jr., so it's like, we all wanted to share the field and there's only one ball to go around so that created that super competitive atmosphere. We've honed each other's skills, we have a great wide receiver coach who has done it year in and year out. He's done it in the league. He was wide receiver one for Miami for multiple years so being able to learn from a craftsman like him has just helped us all the more."

(On where his leadership qualities came from)

"I've always felt like a natural leader ever since I was young. It was actually my fourth grade teacher who said she thought I was going to run for president one day, so shout out to you, Ms. Sparks. I just [feel] like I've always been a natural-born leader – it's something that I take a lot of pride in. I ended up going to school at Ohio State – 2,500 miles away from home – and fast forward to my senior year, my teammates voted me captain, so I think my leadership and my accountability speaks for itself. Other people who are around me – I'm able to lift up everyone around me and kind of push my mindset in the way that I approach football and everyday life. Everyone around me – we try to make each other better. I'm glad that the coaching staff values that because it's something I take a lot of pride in."

(On if he is more of a vocal leader or a lead by example type of guy)

"I feel like it's scenario dependent. I think that having an intimate relationship with everyone who you are trying to lead is what ultimately makes a great leader because not everyone takes to the same things. You can't call out a guy who doesn't respond to hard coaching. You might have to pull him to the side or do something else. Something that I've always done is lead by example with the way that I live, with the way that I play football and the way I approach anything in life. I think that's the strongest testimony you can live is just the way that you walk throughout life."

(On what he knows about Tampa)

"I know it's hot – I know that. That's something I've got to get used to. I'm born and raised in Tacoma, Washington, where it doesn't get too hot. Then, I went to school in Ohio, obviously, and you know what those games were like, especially in November [and] we played a couple in December this year. That's going to be a change for sure, but it's something that I welcome. Hot weather is going to be nice, and I can't wait to get a little darker."

(On whom he celebrated his draft night with)

"I think the better question is, who didn't I [laughs]? There is like 100 people at my draft party. There are coaches, family friends, my parents, my siblings, my best friends since high school. Everybody is here to celebrate this moment and I'm so thankful they were all able to come and join me. I wouldn't have it any other way. They say it takes a village to raise a child, so everyone who came to my draft party tonight has had an instrumental role in helping me develop into the man that I've become today. I wish more people could've even been here than there are now."

(On if playing in a crowded wide receiver room at Ohio State will help with his transition into a talented wide receiver room in Tampa Bay)

"I think something that I learned throughout my time at Ohio State, especially sharing the wide receiver room with so many talented players, is [that] when you have a strong culture built around your program and around the wide receiver room, their success just feels like your success. Like, I can't recall a touchdown where I was salty about my other teammate scoring – I was just as happy, and it was just as if I scored. I think trying to carry that same mindset and that same culture into this wide receiver room, especially sharing it with so many talented people – people who I frankly look up to – it's just a blessing for me, honestly."

(On his message to Buccaneers fans)

"I'm excited to be able to learn this culture. I want to say thank you for taking me in. I'm going to bring my mentality and my work ethic. Everything that I am, and everything that I've been at Ohio State, I'm going to be the same person day-in and day-out. I'm just excited to get started."

-BUCCANEERS-