The Bucs have been the beneficiaries of great rookie play over the past couple of seasons that have propelled them into the upper echelon of teams in the NFL. Tampa Bay will be looking for that same time of contributions from the 2025 draft, who have been given rave reviews from the day they were selected to the completion of mandatory mini-camp. It’s left a lot of excitement for training camp coming up in a month.
The question of who will have the biggest impact from this year’s rookie class is an intriguing one. It’s all about opportunity as much as it is the talent level of these players. There aren’t as many starting roles available, which speaks to how good this roster is, but also a chance for players to have roles.
Ronde Barber Names Four Bucs Rookies To Have An Immediate Impact
Bucs legend and Hall of Famer Ronde Barber was recently live for another episode of The Ronde Barber Show for News Channel 8 WFLA where he named the top three rookies that will have an immediate impact for the Bucs this season. Taking some liberties, there were actually four players listed as he had a 2A and 2B…but who are we to question to Ring of Honor member and Hall of Famer?
Third on the list was first-round pick Emeka Egbuka. Barber spoke all about the great years Egbuka had at Ohio State despite also playing with the likes of Garrett Wilson and Marvin Harrison Jr. throughout his career. Barber credited Egbuka for being able to play anywhere and can see him in the slot. The only reason he wasn’t lower on the list is because Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are in front of him on the depth chart.
Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka – Photo by: Jeffrey Jones/PR
Next mentioned were the corners with Benjamin Morrison at 2B and Jacob Parrish at 2A. Of course there’s Zyon McCollum and Jamel Dean in front but given Dean’s injury history he has a chance to see the field more often than most. Barber credited Morrison for being a round one talent that only dropped to second round because of his hip injury.
In probably the best compliment one could get, Jacob Parrish, who was 2A, was listed a “Ronde Barber” type of player because he can play inside and outside. That’s high praise from Barber, especially as a tackler, and he should land the nickelback spot.
Bucs CB Benjamin Morrison – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Coming in at number one on Barber’s list was outside linebacker David Walker out of Central Arkansas.
Ronde Barber Says David Walker Can Be A Breakout Star
Although David Walker wasn’t participating at mini-camp due to a hamstring injury, Ronde Barber is high on how Walker can re-shape Tampa Bay’s defense even with two veterans starting at the position. This is what Barber said about Walker.
“I didn’t know anything about him until we picked him,” Barber said. “Then you go and look at what he did. He was three years in a row the best defensive player in FCS. The scouting report here is just indicative of him playing at a football championship series level. When you put the film on you’re like ‘Holy cow.’ This dude has this mentality, this underdog mentality that makes people respect him.
Bucs OLBs coach Larry Foote and OLB David Walker – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
“We obviously have Yaya Diaby, we went out and got Haason Reddick in free agency. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka is gone. We need edge pressure. When the Bucs got really good when I was playing, it was because we went out and got Simeon Rice. And we dominated teams after that because of the pressure generated from the edge of our D-line. We need somebody to do that, and I’m not putting a lot of pressure on him, but I’m telling you David Walker looks like a guy that could do that. Now he’s undersized, he’s only 6-1, I think he’s 270 pounds or so, but I would not be surprised if he’s a breakout star.
“A lot of people around football talk about this kid and he had an unbelievable Senior Bowl when he went. I think that’s where he jumped on some people’s radar, and because of the stature of the school he played in, is just kind of where he went into the draft. Also, he’s 25 years old. He’s been around. He’s not a kid. He’s ready to play. I think he’s the guy that I’m most expecting to impact our Bucs team especially on defense this year.”
Bucs OLB David Walker – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Check out the entire segment from Ronde Barber and what he said about each player by watching the video below.