Steelers Now
Ohio State star wide receiver Emeka Egbuka declared for the 2025 NFL Draft, he revealed on Friday in an Instagram post.
Egbuka is considered one of the top wide receivers in this year’s class, and he could be an ideal fit with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are in desperate need of wide receiver help.
Longtime draft guru Mel Kiper of ESPN tabbed Egbuka as being the Steelers’ first-round draft pick at 21st overall in his first mock draft.
Egbuka recorded a career-high 81 grabs for 1,011 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior on Ohio State’s national championship-winning team. He’s drawn comparisons to Detroit Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, a two-time first-team Associated Press All-Pro, and displays some of the same talent.
Egbuka is the Buckeyes’ all-time leading receiver in the categories of receptions (205) and receiving yards (2,868). He accomplished those figures despite sharing the field with first-round picks Marvin Harrison Jr. (4th overall in 2024), Jaxon Smith-Njigba (20th in 2023), Chris Olave (11th in 2022), and Garrett Wilson (10th in 2022). This season, Egbuka played alongside freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith, who figures to be highly sought after when he’s eligible to be drafted.
The Steelers haven’t selected a wide receiver in the first round since 2006, and it was an Ohio State product in Santonio Holmes.
In Dane Brugler of The Athletic’s latest mock draft, he has the Steelers selecting Ohio State star wide receiver Emeka Egbuka at 21st overall.
Wide receiver certainly is a pressing need for the Steelers, and Egbuka would fit the bill. George Pickens’ status with the team heading into a contract is uncertain, but a Pickens-Egbuka pairing could be lethal.
To say the least, the Steelers lacked a 1-2 punch at the wide receiver position in 2024. Van Jefferson as the No. 2 wide receiver left a lot to be desired. Whatever happens with Pickens, the Steelers need a top-tier wide receiver in this year’s draft.
Dane Brugler of The Athletic’s also had the Steelers landing Egbuka at 21st overall in his latest mock draft.
“The Steelers have had mixed results betting on talented-yet-undisciplined receivers in the early rounds. It’s time to invest in a pass catcher such as Egbuka, who might not have a sky-high ceiling but already plays with a pro-level skill set and would be a dependable target for the next decade,” Brugler wrote.
The Steelers have selected three Ohio State players in the first round over the last 20 years — Santonio Holmes, Cam Heyward and Ryan Shazier. Could Egbuka be next?
