All the good news coming out of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ training camp about a rookie wide receiver could actually be bad news for former Oklahoma Sooner Sterling Shepard.
Hype has escalated for Emeka Egbuka, who the Bucs selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. They also drafted another WR in the seventh round with Tez Johnson. As expectations rise for Egbuka, they decrease for Shepard, who’s entering his 10th NFL season.
“He’s so cerebral, he pays attention to everything... he can play any receiver spot..." 🤩🤩🤩
— Kay Adams (@heykayadams) August 6, 2025
HIGH PRAISE from Baker Mayfield on Rookie Emeka Egbuka @Buccaneers @bakermayfield @EgbukaEmeka
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The Bucs recently released their first depth chart of 2025 ahead of their preseason game against the Tennessee Titans on Saturday. Shepard was all the way down at No. 3 in one of the WR slots behind Chris Godwin and Egbuka, respectively. Johnson was the backup in another spot, still higher than Shepard.
Godwin hasn’t practiced yet during training camp and his status for Week 1 is still unknown because of an ankle injury. If Godwin is sidelined, that would theoretically move Egbuka and Shepard up a notch, but only temporarily. And that opportunity for Egbuka, if he impresses early like expected, could increase his playing time while keeping Shepard off the field even more after Godwin returns.
Emeka Egbuka’s breakout buzz has Sterling Shepard sliding down depth chart
Shepard started last season on the Bucs’ practice squad, so he’s desperate to avoid a similar fate. He was promoted to the active roster Week 5, then got a bigger role after Godwin’s season-ending injury Week 7. But even as Baker Mayfield’s third option, Shepard caught just 32 passes for 334 yards and one touchdown.
With Evans and Godwin eventually both back healthy and Egbuka now in the picture, and even predicted to take a chunk of targets from the two Pro Bowlers, Shepard will be the Bucs’ No. 4 in the best-case scenario. However, Jalen McMillan was listed as a starter on the initial depth chart and Trey Palmer was also further up the food chain. That moves Shepard down to sixth in the pecking order.
Shepard just signed a one-year deal worth $1,750,000 with the Bucs this offseason. That contract and the fact he could free up $1.5 million in cap space could make Shepard the Bucs’ top trade candidate this season, if they don’t waive him first.
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