What does the future hold?
Twice now, since the preseason came to an end, Bucs coach Todd Bowles has absolutely raved about the work of UDFA offensive tackle Benjamin Chukwuma and the way he has looked in practices and worthless preseason games.
The native of Nigeria has only played three years of organized football. One year of high school football and two years at Georgia State.
Despite this, the Bucs seem to think they have something in Chukwuma. Shoot, he made the 53-man roster, didn’t he?
At times, Bowles has referred to Chukwuma’s play as “pretty.” And Bowles likes how he has grown his game to be able to play both left and right tackle. He could be the Bucs’ next swing tackle if Charlie Heck ever leaves.
Here is what Bowles said about the raw Chukwuma this week:
“He did well, he did well,” Bowles said of the Backup Bowl to end preseason against Buffalo. “We really like him. He did a lot of good things at left tackle.
“So, to see him go to right means his learning curve is coming along very well and he did well over there. We’re excited to see what the future holds for him and we really like where he’s at right now.”
The past couple of days, Joe was wondering if the Bucs were going to use Chukwuma as leverage against Luke Goedeke since Goedeke — until last night — was in a contract year.
Or were the Bucs planning for life after Goedeke?
Obviously, after last night’s news, Goedeke isn’t going anywhere soon.
Chukwuma is under contract through 2027, per Spotrac.com. And he obviously comes cheap, too.
Could Chukwuma be insurance against — God forbid — Tristan Wirfs if his injury never heals? It sounds as if Wirfs may be dealing with a bone-on-bone issue. That’s not good.
Wirfs, 26, is still young so we shall see.
Would Chukwuma be insurance in case of an injury to Goedeke or Wirfs? Would either of the players be used as trade bait down the road? Who knows who will be running the team in 2028. None of us know if Bucs coach Todd Bowles or Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht will be here in three years.
If Chukwuma is as good as Bowles thinks he is, given his inexpensive contract, Joe doesn’t think the Bucs want to see him walk away in March 2028 for nothing since they’re developing him.
At worst, Chukwuma seems to be a helluva poker chip.