Best PLayer-Team Fits In The First Round Of The 2024 NFL Draft

By Jack Brentnall

The immediate aftermath of the NFL Draft often sees the picks that address glaring needs celebrated most loudly. The collective applause tends to follow the selections that seemingly plug obvious holes on a team’s roster.

However, some of the best draft picks we have seen in recent years have been the exact opposite of that. Instead of plugging holes, teams prioritise talent and look to either build on a strength or create a succession plan at a valuable position.

The Buccaneers’ selection of Emeka Egbuka at No. 19 overall represents precisely this kind of quietly brilliant, forward-thinking move. Egbuka’s arrival isn’t just about filling a spot; it’s about injecting a versatile talent into an offensive framework perfectly suited to his skillset and creating a long-term succession plan.

Egbuka's scheme fit with Tampa Bay

Though Liam Coen may have moved on, the Buccaneers’ offensive staff remains, at its heart, a descendant of the Shanahan/McVay coaching tree. New offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard honed his skills under Mike McDaniel in Miami, before serving under Liam Coen as the passing game coordinator in Tampa Bay last season.

Much has been written about the various offshoots of this scheme that have taken the league by storm over recent years, but for all the variation that exists there is clear consistency in what these offenses are looking for in their wide receivers.

This Bucs offense shares a lot of schematic DNA with the McVay-led Rams, particularly in terms of its commitment to 11 personnel. The Bucs ran 11 personnel on 71.2% of plays in 2024, which ranked eighth in the NFL.

In order for this offense to operate successfully, it needs versatile receivers who allow the team to maintain a physical running game without necessitating personnel changes and thereby sacrificing potency in the passing game.

In the early days of the Rams offense, McVay took the league by storm with his 11 personnel-heavy scheme. Some said that the offense would have been better described as 11.5 personnel thanks to the schematic variety available to them as a result of having Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods. The receiver duo were not only supremely talented pass catchers, but they thrived as blockers in the run game too.

That allowed McVay to effectively run 12 personnel concepts out of 11 personnel, creating all manner of problems for opposing defenses. That is an approach they have continued to develop over the years, even with a move towards a more gap-scheme heavy attack that has, in part, been enabled by Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua’s ability as blockers.

This is where the selection of Emeka Egbuka becomes particularly illuminating. My player comparison for Egbuka throughout the pre-draft process has been Robert Woods, in no small part due to their combination of refined route running and ability to add value as blockers. They also both happen to be useful weapons on jet sweeps and handoffs in the run game.

His skillset directly aligns with the 11.5 personnel concept and he should seamlessly integrate into a system that wants its receivers to wear multiple hats and contribute in a variety of ways. This coaching connection is just one of the reasons that Egbuka’s selection was far more strategic than a simple addition of talent.

Beyond the "slot-only" label

While some have acknowledged the potential scheme fit between Egbuka and the Bucs, a common concern has emerged, that being the perceived redundancy of his role given the presence of Chris Godwin.

Godwin has historically played a significant number of snaps in the slot, a rate that increased considerably to 61.7% in 2024 under Liam Coen and Josh Grizzard, up from 37.4% the previous season.

Those familiar with Egbuka’s college career will know that he was also primarily a slot receiver at Ohio State. 73.2% of his career snaps came in the slot, and he logged an 81.1% slot snap rate in his final season with the Buckeyes.

On first glance then, this argument seemingly has some merit. However, to view Egbuka solely through this lens overlooks a crucial aspect of his collegiate career and significantly underestimates his potential versatility at the professional level.

The fact that he played primarily in the slot in college does not of course preclude him from being a productive boundary receiver. People have short memories, but it is worth recalling that the high volume of slot snaps, despite his impressive route-running and athleticism, was a criticism levelled at Justin Jefferson coming out of LSU. I think it is safe to say those have proven to be a complete non-issue.

I’m not suggesting Egbuka is going to be as talented as Jefferson, but there are certainly parallels to their situations. Both saw their slot usage increase as their college careers progressed. They also had to share the field with future NFL superstars who were prototypical boundary receivers. In Jefferson’s case it was Ja’Marr Chase, and with Egbuka it was Marvin Harrison Jr. and Jeremiah Smith.

A closer examination of Egbuka’s production profile reveals a more nuanced picture. While his slot production was certainly impressive, his efficiency and impact when aligned on the boundary were equally noteworthy, if not more so. 

When given opportunities on the outside, Egbuka showed that he is able to create separation and beat his man. In 2024 he was actually more productive on the boundary on a per route basis. He averaged 2.97 yards per route run on the boundary, which ranks in the 90th percentile, compared to 2.41 from the slot.

That number is also comfortably the best of any wide receiver taken in the first round of this year’s class, none of whom have faced the same slot-only designation as Egbuka. It would have also ranked ahead of players like Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. in last year’s class.

Egbuka might not be your prototypical X receiver, but plenty of great receivers in the modern NFL aren’t either. He has shown more than enough ability to move around the formation and work as a slot and Z receiver and that provides real value for a team like the Bucs.

This positional versatility is a significant asset for the Buccaneers. Their scheme thrives on players who can execute various roles from different alignments. Egbuka will allow them to create more dynamic personnel groupings, exploit mismatches, and avoid predictability in their offensive sets.

Just as the Rams utilised Kupp and Woods (and now Nacua) in a variety of alignments to keep defenses guessing, Egbuka’s positional flexibility will afford the Buccaneers similar strategic advantages, unlocking a wider range of possibilities beyond a pure slot receiver archetype and directly addressing any concerns about redundancy with Godwin.

Ultimately, the acquisition of Emeka Egbuka isn’t just about the Bucs adding another receiver; it’s about injecting a high-floor, versatile talent into an offensive system perfectly suited to his strengths. 

He provides immediate flexibility and the potential to contribute in a multitude of ways, embodying the versatility that has been a hallmark of successful receivers in variations of the Shanahan/McVay system. While also offering a crucial long-term solution at a premium position, Egbuka’s adaptability and scheme fit solidify his selection as one of the most quietly intelligent and impactful moves of the first round, setting the Buccaneers’ offense up for sustained success. Don’t be surprised if we’re talking about him as one of the best rookies from this class in six months’ time.

JACK BRENTNALL

HEAD OF NFL DRAFT CONTENT

Previously the founder of The Jet Sweep, Jack joined The Touchdown as head of Draft Content in 2024. A Scouting Academy alumnus, Jack has been Covering the NFL Draft since 2020. Follow him on Twitter @Jack_Brentnall.

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