Can Emeka Egbuka Be More than a Slot Receiver for the Commanders?

Hogs Haven takes a look at 2025 NFL Draft prospects that could contribute to the Commanders

Emeka Egbuka, WR
School: Ohio State | Conference: Big Ten

College Experience: Senior | Age: 22

Height / Weight: 6’1” / 202 lbs

Projected Draft Status: Late 1st-2nd Round

Player Comparison: Jaxon Smith-Njigba

College Statistics

Player Overview

In his home of DuPont, Washington – where his grandfather served as mayor – Emeka Egbuka honed his skills in two sports. In baseball, he was a centerfielder that was scouted by Major League Baseball. The ball-tracking and catching in baseball goes hand in hand with his play as a receiver on the football field. His junior season, Egbuka had over 1,600 receiving yards, 2,200 total yards, and 32 total TDs. This led to him being named Gatorade Player of the Year in Washington, a five-star recruit, and the top wide receiver recruit in the country. He skipped a pandemic-delayed senior season to enroll early at Ohio State.

The wide receiving group in Columbus was stacked when Egbuka arrived: Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Jamerson Williams were on campus and Egbuka enrolled with Marvin Harrison, Jr. He didn’t produce much as a freshman, but he was a productive kick returner for the Buckeyes. The next season, with Wilson and Olave in the NFL and Smith-Njigba dealing with injury, Egbuka broke out with 71 catches and over 1,000 yards. With Smith-Njigba leaving early for the league, many thought Egbuka would be one of the best receivers in the country as a junior. However, he suffered an ankle injury that required surgery and cost him three games. He wasn’t the same the rest of the season and the numbers show it. He came back for one more season and had the most catches of his career, tied a career high for touchdowns, and helped propel the Buckeyes to a national championship.

Strengths

• Excellent off the line, winning with quickness and precise footwork
• Good at changing tempo of routes and using fakes to create separation
• High IQ shown in understanding and manipulating coverages
• Excellent ball tracking and concentration catches
• Flashes long speed to turn short passes into long gains
• Frame allows him to break through arm tackles

Weaknesses

• Primarily worked out of the slot with free releases and schemed plays
• Can struggle with physical cornerbacks, especially in press
• Doesn’t have suddenness or elusiveness as a runner
• Dealt with significant ankle injury in 2023

Let’s See His Work

How does he fit on the team

Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel headline the Commanders’ receiving corps. Veterans Noah Brown, K.J. Osborn, and Michael Gallup round out the group along with a developing Luke McCaffrey. Of all those names, the only one signed beyond 2026 is Luke McCaffrey. If the Commanders want to get ahead of their needs, they will prioritize finding a talented wide receiver to complement Jayden Daniels.

He may not be the biggest or fastest receiver, but Emeka Egbuka is reliable. After a four-year career, Egbuka leaves Ohio State as the Buckeyes’ all-time leader in catches and yards. It’s his release, his route-running, and hands that will help him be successful going forward. He’d immediately improve the slot WR position if selected by the Commanders, finding a fair amount of targets. But, to be the Commanders’ selection, Egbuka has to show he can be more than just a slot receiver. While he has attributes that suggest he will, it’ll be important for him to be more physical. Having Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel should help him in this area. If he can improve his physicality, Egbuka could be a WR1 in the NFL. If he doesn’t, he should still be one of the best slot WRs in the league with time.