If the Buffalo Bills are looking at wide receiver early in this year’s draft, it’s hard to pass up the production of Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka, who is the latest in a recent run of greats for the Buckeyes.
But does his projected position fit with what the Bills need?
Egbuka put up huge numbers for Ohio State over the past few years, finishing with the most receptions and second most receiving yards in program history. He also had two seasons of 10 touchdowns while playing alongside a host of big name offensive players and first-round draft picks, helping the Buckeyes win the national championship.
“That was really the reason I decided to go to Ohio State, because I didn’t want to go to a place where I wasn’t going to be challenged by my peers,” Egbuka said at the NFL Scouting Combine. “I wanted to go to a place where in order to see the field I had to grow and at an exponential rate because they were all growing as well. Being able to play with them, just being in that competitive atmosphere, is why I’m standing before you today for sure.”
Egbuka played mostly in the slot for the Buckeyes, a position held by Khalil Shakir for the Bills. The Athetlic’s Dane Brugler wrote that Egbuka has the ability to line up outside and that would seem to be more of the need for Buffalo, but Joe Brady’s offense values versatility and lines people up in various formations.
He’s 6’1” and compares to fellow former Buckeye, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, now of the Seattle Seahawks, according to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein.
While his game isn’t necessarily flashy, Egbuka wins with a savy approach.
“Every time we watch film, I never tell myself ‘good job’ in my head,” he said. “I’m always critiquing myself, whether it’s run blocking, route running, my splits before the play. Just making sure I’m playing with the DB mentally. It’s all an art and I love learning the art of receiver.”
When asked who the top quarterbacks in the league are, Egbuka mentioned Josh Allen.
“MVP. He’s doing everything the right way right now,” he said.
Egbuka is likely a first-round pick, according to scouts and draft analysts.