Emeka Egbuka — NFL Mock Draft Roundup 1.0

Leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft, we will track where Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Emeka Egbuka appears in the latest NFL mock drafts.

Emeka Egbuka NFL Mock Drafts

Here are some of the latest mock drafts in which Egbuka has appeared:

CBS Sports — Josh Edwards

No. 21 overall — Pittsburgh Steelers

Emeka Egbuka would be a great complement to George Pickens in Pittsburgh if Pickens is still around. The long-term quarterback situation would still need to be addressed, but at least that player would have a few competent outlets in the pass game.

NFL.com — Bucky Brooks

No. 19 overall — Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Third-round rookie Jalen McMillan blossomed down the stretch this past season, but the Buccaneers could still stand to invest valuable draft capital into the wide receiver position, with Chris Godwin on the verge of free agency and Mike Evans heading toward the final year of his contract. Egbuka is a high-floor prospect with WR1/WR2 potential.

Yahoo! — Tice/McDonald

No. 21 overall — Pittsburgh Steelers

Outside of a long-term answer at QB, the Steelers desperately need another pass catcher to pair with George Pickens. Egbuka is a coach's dream of a player: He is good at essentially every aspect of playing the receiver position, plays hard, and is an excellent blocker. While the Steelers have shied away from taking receivers in the first round, Egbuka honestly just feels like a Steelers receiver with his ability to play inside and out, along with his sheer toughness that would fit perfectly in Arthur Smith's offense.

The Athletic — Baumgardner/Dochterman

No. 20 overall — Denver Broncos

The most polished route runner in the draft, Egbuka fits any and all offenses. He was a possession-type receiver in setting Ohio State's career receptions record (205), but he's skilled beyond that description — plus, he blocks. It's not farfetched to envision Egbuka becoming a valued player for more than a decade, perhaps like former NFL receiver Anquan Boldin.

EDSFootball — Kevin Hanson

No. 17 overall — Cincinnati Bengals

Perhaps Joe Burrow (and many Bengals' fans) will get their wish and the team will re-sign Tee Higgins, but it's more than fair to wonder if they will be willing to pony up what he may command in the open market, especially with Ja'Marr Chase entering a walk year. While he's always played second fiddle to Ohio State's other elite receivers, he finished his career with the most receptions (205) and yards (2,868) in school history.

The 33rd Team — Kyle Crabbs

No. 25 overall — Houston Texans

Houston's loaded wide receiver room did not survive the 2024 season. The Stefon Diggs gamble did not pay off and young receiver Tank Dell suffered an ugly season-ending injury for the second consecutive season. Pairing Egbuka with his former college quarterback would give this passing game some extra juice and fast track the chemistry between CJ Stroud and a new addition to the wide receiver room.

ESPN — Mel Kiper

No. 21 overall — Pittsburgh Steelers

The last time the Steelers took a receiver in Round 1 was 2006, when they drafted Santonio Holmes at No. 25. But unless things drastically change in free agency, Pittsburgh has to break that streak. There aren't enough reliable pass catchers in this offense. The Steelers don't have a surefire WR2 behind George Pickens, and the offense isn't going to improve until they do something there, no matter the QB.

Egbuka caught six passes for 64 yards in Monday's national championship win, putting him over 1,000 yards on the season (1,011). It was also the second time in the past three years that Egbuka caught double-digit touchdowns (10). He's a great route runner with speed and would eat up targets in the Steelers' offense.

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