It is no secret that the 2025 Bucs are the perfect example of being “all hands on deck.”

By now, you know the tale of this Tampa Bay squad. The team has overcome injuries to achieve a 6-3 record, but the group is now in a difficult stretch of the schedule that will define them the rest of the way. Even reaching this point is a testament to just how far the team has come – and why this year’s rookie class has become all the more vital as the year has progressed. From top to bottom, just about every draft pick has been a net positive on the field, which is especially hard to come by for playoff contenders in the thick of games that really count.

This raises the question – where would the Bucs be without all their rookies?

As Of Late, The Bucs Offense Is Being Carried By Two Rookie WRs

It seems like forever ago that there was even a slight criticism of Bucs general manager Jason Licht taking wide receiver Emeka Egbuka with the 19th overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft. Licht and the rest of Tampa Bay’s front office would then go on to draft four consecutive defensive players before diving back into the wide receiver well in the seventh round with Tez Johnson.

Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka – Photo by: USA Today

Immediately following the picks, determining what their roles would be was difficult, with Mike Evans entering his 12th season still the star of the room and Chris Godwin Jr. expected back either in Week 1 or not too long after.

Fast forward to now.

Evans first suffered a hamstring injury, only to return and suffer a broken clavicle that will keep him out for several more weeks, at least. Godwin finally returned in Week 4, only to suffer a fibula injury and case doubt into whether he will ever return to form after a second major injury. Any offense losing their top two wide receivers would understandably be left in shambles.

ENTER SCENE

Emeka Egbuka and Tez Johnson.

It was one thing seeing Egbuka come out of the gates to a roaring start, but Johnson has started to star in recent weeks, too.

Through 10 weeks, Egbuka has 40 receptions for 677 yards and six touchdowns, with Johnson adding 19 receptions for 255 yards and four touchdowns. After once being projected to be the third and sixth wide receivers on the depth chart, they have risen to first and second. While the Bucs offense has struggled at times over the past couple of games, they have been the main source of points. For instance, they were responsible for all three touchdowns in Tampa Bay’s last game, with Johnson recording his first multi-touchdown performance.

Bucs WR Tez Johnson – Photo by: USA Today

Without them, offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard and quarterback Baker Mayfield would be making do with a position group led by Sterling Shepard, Kameron Johnson, and Ryan Miller. Each have had their moments, but that trio is a far cry playmaking-wise compared to a rookie duo putting on a clinic as of late. Taking into account just how timely a couple of Egbuka’s touchdown catches have been earlier in the year, and one could argue that his presence alone has added another win or two in the win-loss column.

Drafting ‘Mek’ and ‘Tez’ has already paid huge dividends offensively, but the defense has also greatly benefited from rookie contributions.

Benjamin Morrison And Jacob Parrish Are A Promising CB Duo

Looking at how the 2025 NFL Draft class has come along so far, and it is safe to say the stars of it have mostly been on the offensive side. Emeka Egbuka, Jaxson Dart, and Ashton Jeanty have elicited much of the fanfare, as did Cam Skattebo before his injury. Defensively, many of the top draft picks have not had as such strong starts, but do not tell that to the Bucs rookies who have looked the part.

Starting in the secondary, it is cornerback Jacob Parrish who has been most impressive, as the third-round pick has capably filled the nickel role within head coach Todd Bowles’ defense. Blending 4.35 speed with a high motor and plus physicality, Parrish has looked polished from the start wearing many different hats. Outside of just playing nickel, he has also kicked outside when the position was banged up.

Bucs CB Jacob Parrish – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Through nine games, he has 41 tackles, five tackles for loss, three passes defensed, and two sacks.

Defensive backs, especially in Bowles’ scheme, do not have it easy taking the step from the college to pro ranks. A lot is put on their plate, but Parrish has taken it in stride and is already an above-average player at his position. He has slowed down a little from a blazing hot start, but Pro Football Focus ranks him as the 31st-best cornerback out of 109 cornerbacks. The best is yet to come from him, but the early returns are extremely promising.

Benjamin Morrison was the other cornerback taken, with the first-round talent falling to the second round due to injury concerns. It has been a slow ramp-up for “B-Mo,” but he has been viewed as a long-term starter on the outside. Most may think of his recent showing against the Patriots and view him in a negative light. While it was an outing Morrison would like to forget, the ups have been greater than the downs.

Bucs CB Benjamin Morrison – Photo by: Cliff Welch P/R

The 21-year-old brims with upside physically and mentally. As the son of an NFL cornerback whom Bowles played with, he is thought of highly and has seen increased playing time. That has come with the questionable call to sub him out for Jamel Dean occasionally, but looking past that, he has been more impressive. Through six games, Morrison has nine tackles, two passes defensed, and a tackle for loss.

More than just statistics are the glimpses of being a corner who can shut down opposing wide receivers, as he did against Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown in Week 4.

Do not be surprised to see Morrison continue earning snaps, as he did in Week 4 and Week 8 when had over 50% of them. It will be harder to do with Zyon McCollum and Jamel Dean healthy, but indications are that you are seeing someone who is the lead candidate to be a full-time starter on defense next season should Dean depart in free agency.

Putting Parrish and Morrison together, and the defense has extracted value and significant playing time between two players who have shown they can hold their own and be a part of one of the better secondaries in the league.

Don’t Forget About DT Elijah Roberts, Either

The loss of defensive tackle Calijah Kancey back in Week 2 was one of the more underrated blows the Bucs have suffered this season. Some might forget that Kancey was thought of being the one who would lead the team in sacks for the second year in a row and take the next step as a double-digit sacker and a pass-rushing menace. Initially, it was veteran Greg Gaines who took most of Kancey’s snaps, but he is not a needle mover.

Who has been for much of the year?

Fifth-round pick Elijah Roberts.

Bucs DT Elijah Roberts – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Just about every week, Roberts has played a key part in making a big play, whether that is chipping in on sacks, knocking down passes, to even recovering a fumble. He is arguably the player who most exceeds his statistics. To Todd Bowles, he is a gem who has been unearthed.

“He is really understanding the system and getting comfortable and then applying that to his ability in already knowing how to play,” Bowles said in late October. “He is really settling in down there. [He is] using his hands a lot more, he is bringing his feet with him. He is one of our slipperiest guys down there.”

Plays like this show why.

In nine games (three starts), Roberts has compiled 1o tackles, five quarterback hits, three passes defensed, two sacks, and that fumble recovery.

It was only a few weeks ago that he was among the rookie leaders in quarterback pressures and hits, and he is continuing to outplay his draft position. During the team’s last game, Roberts became one of four rookies to record a sack and a pass defensed in the same game this season.

The others?

First-round selections Jalon Walker, James Pearce Jr., and Walter Nolen.

He has continued to take on an increased workload with no problems. Finding a Day 3 player who is an immediate difference-maker is hard to do, but Tampa Bay was two for two in that regard with their 2025 draft picks.

Overall, one can already look at what the Bucs’ latest rookie draft class has accomplished and see the latest crop of players being key to success — right now. Without the likes of Emeka Egbuka, Benjamin Morrison, Jacob Parrish, Elijah Roberts, and Tez Johnson, it is realistic to think the team has two or three less wins than they do.

While the talk of not trading for a player at the trade deadline left some frustrated about what this year’s team could be, there is always a forward-thinking plan to find the right controllable talent. That is a main reason for Tampa Bay’s extended reign over the NFC South, and why signs point to that continuing now and in the future.