Lofty rookie grade.
Going through various sources, Joe still sees a fair number of folks who think Bucs receiver Emeka Egbuka is still a favorite for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
But it seems, per Josh Edwards of CBS, Egbuka has some company in the NFC South. Edwards likes Egbuka a lot. He currently has Egbuka with [an “A-” grade](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/grading-every-first-round-pick-through-week-7-tyler-warren-emeka-egbuka-lead-strong-rookie-class/) for his rookie season.
> Tampa Bay’s selection of Egbuka was curious at the time, but it has paid dividends in a few ways. First, the player has been impactful. Two, the Buccaneers have been dealing with injuries at the position, including to Egbuka, so depth has been important. Egbuka had the third-most receiving touchdowns with five and fifth-most receiving yards (469) in the league entering “Monday Night Football.”
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> There is room for him to grow as a blocker, but he is willing to get after it in that aspect as well.
Yeah, a rookie receiver has literally saved the Bucs’ season. But let’s ding him because he’s not Michael Clayton.
(For those not aware, then-Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik re-signed Clayton, who couldn’t catch a cold if he showered outside in Alaska in the winter, with an obscene contract for the sole purpose of blocking. Not because he could catch, but because he could block.)
Egbuka, however, is not the lone rookie receiver in the NFC South, to get an “A-” grade from Edwards. So too did Tetairoa McMillan of the Stinking Panthers.