BTSC kicks off scouting report season with one of the most popular names in Steelers’ mock drafts.

Approaching the 2025 NFL Draft, we’ll be scouting as many of the top prospects that the Pittsburgh Steelers could have their eye on anywhere from Rounds 1 through 7. We’ll break down the prospects themselves, strengths and weaknesses, projected draft capital and their fit with the Steelers.

One thing everyone can agree on is that the Steelers need some new faces at wide receiver in 2025. Is Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka an ideal first round target for Pittsburgh?

The basics on Emeka Egbuka

• Position: Wide receiver
• Class: Senior
• Size: 6’1, 205 pounds
• Age: 22
• Projected draft round: 1

Offensive stats via Sports Reference

Emeka Egbuka scouting report

Emeka Egbuka is now Ohio State’s all-time leading receiver, and watching the tape it’s easy to see why. Great hands. Smart player. Efficient, effective route-running. Egbuka has some limitations, but he’s an extremely NFL-ready prospect heading into his rookie season.

Egbuka (No. 2 in all clips) is the definition of a smooth athlete. There isn’t a lot of wasted motion in his routes, and he always puts himself in position to get the ball (in motion on the bottom of the screen).

I’m a fan of the subtle touches on the route below: angling inward off the release before quickly breaking out and turning toward the quarterback. Egbuka is a quarterback-friendly receiver who had a lot of success in the short game as a reliable target (slot on the top of the screen).

He has strong hands and excellent concentration — capable of making catches outside of his frame (top of the screen).

While Egbuka had plenty of success down the field, he won’t wow anyone with his speed. He’s not slow, but he’s certainly not a deep threat. However, the quickness of his release consistently impressed me. Egbuka can get past the first level of the defense in a hurry, which is a real asset when he’s playing inside. I also love how much he flattens the route here to make it an easier throw for his quarterback. Good stuff. (Top of the screen).

He also has a great feel of where to sit in between zones. Again, watch the manipulation of the flat defender right after his release (slot on the top of the screen):

Egbuka’s talents as a blocker might be slightly overhyped, but it’s definitely a strength of his game. He has solid size and good effort most of the time, and he helped spring a number of runs for Ohio State last season (watch the top of the screen here):

(In the slot on the top of the screen here).

Egbuka’s knowledge of the game is easy to see on tape with his savvy route-running, but some of his sideline knowledge was also captured during the National Championship, where he suggested the play that put the dagger in Notre Dame.

One thing to note is that Egbuka underwent a “tightrope” ankle surgery in 2023 that caused him to miss three games, but he looked healthy in 2024 and it hasn’t seemed to impact his draft stock much.

Egbuka has an incredibly high floor. While he isn’t the most dynamic player in this class, there aren’t any clear weaknesses in his game. He’s well-deserving of the first-round hype.

Strengths

• Experienced, versatile receiver; played all over the formation at Ohio State
• Smooth, effective route-runner
• Strong hands; can make catches outside of his frame and track the ball excellently
• Above-average blocker
• Good frame
• Quick release

Weaknesses

• Not a burner, won’t run by many NFL defensive backs
• Not especially shifty in the open field

What others are saying about Emeka Egbuka

Bleacher Report

Emeka Egbuka is a detailed and nuanced route runner to fill the “chain mover” role in an NFL offense. Placing Egbuka in a timing and rhythm offense is best for his ability and NFL future. Egbuka wins from the slot with nuance and detailed route running. Depending on where he is breaking, he uses his body to stem routes inside or out to get his defender to move with him. He manipulates off-coverage defenders with his quickness out of the breaks. Egbuka is a smooth and fluid mover who quickly changes directions to separate from coverage. … GRADE: 8.0 (Year 1 Starter — Late 1st – Early 2nd) … PRO COMPARISON: Amon-Ra St. Brown

Andrew Harbaugh of Bucs Wire

Emeka Egbuka has been a draft darling ever since he was a Freshman at Ohio State. Every year, there has been consistent growth from the former Buckeye wide receiver, which made his return in 2023 so shocking to draft fans. Fast forward to 2024, and all season long, he showcased consistent route running and body control in a variety of situations. All the while, Ohio State marched their way to the National Championship. Egbuka is now poised to be a year-one starter for a team in the NFL and become one of the more consistent wide receivers in the league.

Kyle Crabbs of The 33rd Team

Pro Comparison: Jaxon Smith-Njigba … Ohio State Buckeyes WR Emeka Egbuka is a well-built, smooth slot receiver who offers reliable hands and toughness at the catch point. Egbuka should be considered an underneath, chain-moving option at the NFL level who can provide value in 11p-heavy offenses. The Shanahan scheme and all of its branches across the league will likely find ample value in Egbuka’s game on targets that attack the middle of the field. … YAC demon with comfort in the middle of the field … Unlikely to offer vertical value at the NFL level.

Emeka Egbuka’s fit with the Steelers

Here’s where it gets interesting. Would Egbuka be a good pick by the Steelers? I’d say so. Pittsburgh needs a consistent, starting-level pass-catcher in the receiving room opposite George Pickens, and Egbuka can fill that role. I think he has the physical tools to be a productive target on the outside (where he still spent a lot of time at Ohio State) even if most project him as a slot receiver at the next level.

However, there is a reason why most see Egbuka as a slot receiver (and why the Amon-Ra St. Brown pro comps are warranted). Egbuka is lethal in that role. With his extensive route tree, blocking ability, and toughness, he’s the perfect big slot in a creative offense like the Lions. The Steelers… are not that kind of offense. As good as Egbuka could be in the black and gold, there’s still a part of me that wants to see the team pursue a bit more of a boundary difference-maker that could fill the WR1 void if/when George Pickens leaves town.

Still, as the Steelers enter another year of quarterback uncertainty, having a reliable possession receiver like Emeka Egbuka would add some much-needed consistency to the offense.

TL;DR: Egbuka is a solid all-around possession receiver with toughness, football smarts, and good-not-great athleticism. He’s built to excel in the short passing game.

What are your thoughts on Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka? And which draft prospects would you like to see profiled next? Let us know in the comments below!