There’s no love lost between former Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith and the Bucs as NFC South Rivals. Smith is a widely respected wide receiver for his time playing in the league and has been very opinionated as an active player and even more as a media member now 10 years removed from his playing days. While Smith certainly has his feelings about Baker Mayfield well documented, he also knows the wide receiver position as well as anyone. He kept an open mind when talking about Tampa Bay’s first-round pick Emeka Egbuka when discussing his rookie season.

Smith has a series on his 89 Show YouTube channel called “Rookie Report Cards” where he looks at the season of several NFL rookie players. He and co-host James Palmer have gone through some running backs, such as Ashton Jeanty, Cam Skattebo and TreVeyon Henderson, followed by wide receivers, such as Luther Burden and Jayden Higgins.

Steve Smith Gives His Grade For Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka

This week, Steve Smith’s attention turned to Buccaneers first-round pick Emeka Egbuka. The conversation over the receiver from Ohio State circled around his hot start to the year, why he cooled off, some drop issues and his overall tape. Egbuka was graded on different categories that consisted of route running, role acceptance, big dog mentality, transition, and potential.

And the grades were…really good! When it was all said and done, Smith gave Egbuka an A in every category, giving him an overall grade of the same letter. Here was what he said about Egbuka.

Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“I got all A’s going down the board,” Smith said. “Everything you see that he does, he does it excellent. He just got here, he’s still got milk coming out of his ears. That’s the phrase we use as just young. Sitting here, I’m looking at his tape and I’m looking for things to be negative about, because especially the last game of the season the Panthers going against the Buccaneers to get into the playoffs, the first thought I had is ‘They better keep their eyes on Emeka Egbuka’ because he can spring you loose and do somethings that you just weren’t expecting.

“For me, I got A’s all down the board because you already know that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, at least as far as this position, they’re in great hands. No sense for me to sit here and try to nitpick him. His play is balling.”

When Smith talks about young receivers, people listen. Smith didn’t hesitate in praising Egbuka’s rookie season – and that’s not praise Smith hands out lightly.

Smith, known for his brutally honest receiver breakdowns and high standards for route running and physicality, said Egbuka “Plays like a pro already,” pointing to his polish, football I.Q., and ability to consistently separate as reasons for the strong grade.

“He understands leverage. He understands spacing,” Smith said in his evaluation. “That’s veteran stuff.”

Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka – Photo by: USA Today

What stood out most to Smith wasn’t highlight-reel explosiveness, it was Egbuka’s discipline. According to Smith, Egbuka wins with details. His ability to stem routes properly, manipulate defensive backs at the top of his breaks, and settle into coverage windows showed “a level of refinement rarely seen from first-year players.”

That distinction matters. Plenty of rookies flash athleticism. Fewer demonstrate the nuance required to win consistently on Sundays. Smith emphasized that ability to handle contact and still finish plays, calling it “grown-man football.”

For a rookie receiver adjusting to NFL speed and physicality, that’s high praise.

Bucs Need A Big Season From Emeka Egbuka

Emeka Egbuka finished the 2025 season with 63 catches for 938 yards and six touchdowns. He wasn’t just a rotational piece or gadget player, he quickly had to be the focal point of the offense with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin Jr. injured. Although his season slowed down as the Buccaneers’ season declined, there’s a lot of promise heading into his second year.

Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka – Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Its possible that Egbuka will have to lead the way once again if Evans signs with another team in free agency and Godwin can’t regain his top level form. A full offseason and an understanding of what it takes to succeed in the NFL can hopefully propel Egbuka to a 1,000-yard season and top receiver in the game.

Check out Smith’s full assessment of Emeka Egbuka by clicking this link.

We also spoke a lot about Egbuka and him being a core player for the Bucs on Wednesday’s Pewter Report Podcast. Watch the video below and subscribe to our YouTube channel, PewterReportTV.