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Emeka Egbuka and Tetairoa McMillan are friends but also rivals.

Tetairoa McMillan and Emeka Egbuka are intrinsically tied forever as 2025 first-round draft picks chosen by NFC South teams.

But Egbuka revealed that the division rivals are actually closer than most fans would hope.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers‘ superstar receiver opened up about his relationship with the Carolina Panthers wideout is while appearing on the “Up and Adams” Show on Wednesday.

McMillan and Egbuka battled throughout their rookie campaigns, with the Panthers and Bucs challenging for the NFC South title.

But Carolina won both, since McMillan, who was picked eighth overall, edged out Egbuka (5th) for the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year with 70 catches for 1,014 yards and the Panthers won the division by a tiebreaker.

Tetairoa McMillan, Emeka Egbuka are ‘Pretty Good Friends’

Egbuka and McMillan did not play each other in college, since the Bucs receiver went to Ohio State and McMillan graduated from the University of Arizona. They didn’t play together in high school either.

But according to Egbuka, he and McMillan are close.

“The thing is T-Mac and I are pretty good friends,” Egbuka said. “We trained together for draft prep, so I got to know him and we hung out a little bit.”

Egbuka met McMillan’s parents, Shawny and Wyatt, at the NFL Honors award show at the Super Bowl in February. Egbuka enjoyed his time with his friend and found his parents familiar.

“He’s just hilarious, first of all,” Egbuka said. “Such a cool dude. I got to see him at NFL Honors [and] meet his parents and all that — you know how [Polynesians] are. I grew up around them my whole life, so they’re just the most welcoming and amazing people.”

Emeka Egbuka is Embracing the Competition Between Himself and Tetairoa McMillan

It’s fine for Egbuka and McMillan to be friendly off the field. But on the field, Egbuka appreciates they will need to battle — even though it won’t be a one-on-one duel since they both play the same position.

“When it comes to competition, I know we’re in the back of each other’s minds,” Egbuka said. “I feel blessed to have that kind of competitive atmosphere and that type of rivalry.”

With the Panthers overtaking the Bucs and winning the division with a young and exciting roster that also features 24-year-old quarterback Bryce Young, they appear to be a budding thorn in the Bucs’ sides.

The Panthers and Bucs have not been good at the same time since the Panthers entered the NFL in 1995. But this could be the time for that rivalry to take off, especially with each side having a claim to the best receiver in football.

Egbuka, who had a 63 catches for 938 yards and six touchdowns in his own right in his rookie season, is ready to embrace the inevitable battle between himself and his friend. But he also will be cheering on McMillan from down in Florida.

“It’s just an extra motivation and an extra driving factor,” Egbuka said of the rivalry. “But at the same time, I’m really happy for all the success he’s having.”