Steelers Snag Ohio State Star WR in Mock Draft
With the Pittsburgh Steelers season coming to a close last week, it is now officially draft season. 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.
“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.
In his four seasons in Columbus, Egbuka caught 199 passes for 2,804 yards (14.1 average) and 24 touchdowns. In 2024, he recorded 75 receptions for 947 yards (12.6 average) and 10 touchdowns.
Egbuka, who is the leader of a talented Ohio State receiving corps, will take on Notre Dame for the National Championship on Jan. 20.
Pro Football Network also thinks Egbuka would be an ideal fit in the Black and Gold. The Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos and Washington Commanders could be other potential landing spots for the highly touted Buckeye.
“With the 2025 QB situation still unclear in Pittsburgh, the best thing the team could do right now is focus on providing weapons for whoever ends up being their signal-caller long-term. George Pickens is Pittsburgh’s only reliable wide receiver, and the Steelers have been linked to numerous wide receivers on the trade market<‘ Alex Kennedy of Pro Football Network wrote.
“Landing a wide receiver who complements Pickens and improves the passing attack will likely be a priority this offseason. Pairing the 22-year-old Egbuka with the 23-year-old Pickens could give Pittsburgh a solid one-two punch going forward.”
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?
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