Emeka Egbuka = Difference Maker

Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka was among my favorite prospects to evaluate during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. I couldn’t wait to dive into his 2024 tape, and he did not disappoint.

“He’s gotten better.”

That was my first thought.

Egbuka looked more comfortable in his role ⎯and he looked more polished, stronger, and more accomplished as a route runner.

He was darn near impossible to cover.

Great news for the lucky team that lands him in the 2025 NFL Draft ⎯Bad news for the other 31 teams.

Route architect

Set-hut

Egbuka came off the snap, charging and digging hard into his route. So smooth looking. Every step is as calculated as math. He had a knack for finding the soft spots in coverage ⎯and he understands how to get open. Egbuka also knows how to set up the cornerbacks while building sizeable but invisible throwing windows for his quarterback to throw through and get it to him.

He used all sorts of methodologies to win against cornerbacks while catching 81 passes on 109 targets (74.3% catch rate). He racked up 1,011 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Egbuka made it look easy.

Most of his work (343/423 snaps) was done out of the slot (inside receiver) position in the short-to-intermediate route level (0-19 yards), and he was a handful to bring down after the catch.YAC…YAC…YAC (yardage after the catch). Egbuka is a chain mover. In 2024, he produced 47 first downs. Per Pro Football Focus, he averaged 4.0 yards after the catch. However, don’t fall asleep on him, because he also has enough juice and the desire to get behind the defense.

Can he be stopped?

Two things were true in his game film ⎯

Sometimes, Egbuka stopped himself due to having a pretty average-looking catch radius, and defenders were able to stop him by getting really physical with him.

If defenses sit back on this receiver and allow him to run the show, he’ll kill them.

However, the defensive backs who were able to strongly physically contest him at the catch point had some success causing incompletions. Notice, I said some. Egbuka still managed to make a few of them.

Crystal ball

Egbuka will be a star at the next level, and he has enough to him to come off the board early. He has the potential to catch 100+ passes a year.

He’d be ideal for a team that is attempting to develop a young quarterback. Egbuka is especially adept at catching that short little quick lateral wide receiver bubble screen and turning it into something. He really excels short-range.

He’d be a great fit with the Patriots (No. 4), Panthers (No. 8), Saints (No. 9), or Bears (No. 10).

The league better be careful not to let him slide down to the Chiefs.

#2 Emeka Egbuka 6-foot-1, 202 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Final 2025 NFL Draft Grade: First-Round (I would select him)

Projected by 74.7% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of April 5, 2025 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

Emeka Egbuka: First Round Spark Plug (2022: 6 games evaluated)

Emeka Egbuka Showing He Has What It Takes (2023: 10 games evaluated)

2024 game film evaluated: Akron, Western Michigan, Marshall, Michigan State, Iowa, Oregon, Nebraska, Penn State, Purdue, Northwestern, Indiana, Michigan, Tennessee, Oregon, Texas, and Notre Dame (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Well built and highly skilled receiver. Lines up all over the place outside, in the slot, as a running back, and even H-Back. Motions a lot pre-snap. Offers game-planning creativity. Tough. Excellent understanding of route spacing. Destroys zone. Wins against corners in man by changing the pace, with eye manipulation, or natural quickness. Sudden. Excellent at widening the top of route stems to create leverage with counter steps of misdirection. Good concentration. Confident hands. Determined after the catch. Accelerates. Looks to cut it back inside. No give up. Endzone-minded. Showed spin and flashed a stiff arm ⎯and he knows how to use it. Competitive. Can take a handoff and even attempt to throw it. Some element of ‘Jack-of-all-trades’ to him. Has a history as a punt returner.

Final words

I’m sold on him.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.