Racking up strong numbers.
There’s been a lot of oxygen spent and words typed about how Bucs rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka should be the “NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.”
Egbuka has been fantastic. The last couple of weeks he’s been a bit quiet. Joe thinks there are three reasons why.
The first reason is Egbuka is hurt. He’s been dealing with a hamstring injury. Hard to run good routes or blow past people with a bum hamstring.
The second is defenses are getting wise to him. He is no longer a surprise. Defenses have to gameplan for Egbuka or he will roast them.
And third, defenses can double-team him more. With Mike Evans and Chris Godwin out, who else are defensive coordinators going to lose sleep over?
But quietly, sneakily, the Bucs may have a stud defensive rookie who should seriously be considered for the “NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year” hardware.
Bucs slot corner Jacob Parrish is putting together a helluva resume for postseason honors. For example, the NFL twittered out three defensive rookies who the league apparently believes should be the frontrunners for Defensive Rookie of the Year. That would be Eagles linebacker Jihaad Campbell, Giants defensive end Abdul Carter and Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori.
But, as the Bucs’ media relations staff points out, Parrish has better numbers than all three.
Jacob Parrish: 2.0 sacks, 5 TFLs, 3 PD, 37 Tackles
Campbell, Carter & Emmanwori COMBINED: 0.5 sacks, 5 TFLs, 4 PD, 83 Tackles.
Maybe someone with the NFL should reconsider and reassess.
Joe doesn’t think Parrish, unless he makes a bunch more splash plays, will get this award. First, when is the last time a slot corner got any sort of award? You may have to go back to Rondé Barber. It’s been a while since he played.
Also, Parrish didn’t play for a blue blood college program that has fans everywhere, like Egbuka (Ohio State) or Campbell (Alabama) or Carter (Penn State). And Parrish didn’t play in a high-profile college conference like Emmanwori (SEC).
Parrish played for Kansas State in the Big XII.
And, talking to media and blowing his own horn is not Parrish’s vibe. He’s a really quiet dude. Maybe even shy. As Lavonte David has unfortunately realized, maybe way too late, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
But yeah, next time you run across an Eagles fan or a Giants fan at the bar and he’s mouthing off about Campbell or Carter, just educate him on a quiet guy who dodges the spotlight — one with better numbers than high-profile defensive rookies.
Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht did it again.
Maybe the guy who has more sacks and the same number of tackles for loss as this whole group COMBINED?
Jacob Parrish: 2.0 sacks, 5 TFLs, 3 PD, 37 Tackles
Campbell, Carter & Emmanwori COMBINED: 0.5 sacks, 5 TFLs, 4 PD, 83 Tackles#WeAreTheKrewe | @Jacobp102 https://t.co/vRnZGJnetX pic.twitter.com/kwLnIxsGxC
— Buccaneers Communications (@BuccaneersComms) October 30, 2025