The 2025 NFL Draft will provide the Denver Broncos with an opportunity to add more talent to their roster. With four picks in the Top 125 and three more in the sixth round, they have plenty of draft capital to address current and future needs.
Over the past two drafts, the team has invested several draft picks to upgrade their wide receiver corps. They moved up for Marvin Mims Jr. in the 2023 NFL Draft. Last year, they moved up for Troy Franklin and used a late-round selection Devaughn Vele. Those three are paired alongside Courtland Sutton and free agent addition Trent Sherfield making them five deep at the position.
Head Coach Sean Payton says he is pleased with the progress those young players showed last season. While the Broncos’ brass appears to be high on the players they have, I’m of the opinion they could use a long-term solution and upgrade at the position.
One of my favorite prospects in this year’s draft is Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka. Reliable, productive, and dependable, Egbuka has been a productive player in the Buckeyes’ offense over the past several seasons. Keep in mind, he was sharing time with Marvin Harrison Jr., Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba on their depth chart during his tenure with the Buckeyes. All four went on to become first round picks and the fifth, freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith from this past season, will certainly be a first-round pick in a few years too.
By all accounts, he is next in line to hear his named called early on in April. Are you fan of physical wide receivers who run great routes, move the chains, and also carry their weight as a run blocker? If so, he should be high on your list of draftable prospects for the Broncos. Let’s take a deeper look at his strengths, weaknesses, and why I feel he would be a tremendous addition to the team’s offense.
Player Profile: Emeka Egbuka — Wide Receiver — Ohio State
Height: 6’1” | Weight: 202 pounds | Arm Length: 31-1/2” | Hand Size: 9-5/8”
40-yard dash: 4.48 seconds | 10-yard split: 1.51 seconds | Vertical: 38.5”
Statistics at Ohio State: 60 games played, 205 receptions, 2868 yards, 14.0 yards per reception, 24 touchdowns.
Film Room & Highlights
Hart’s Scouting Report
Positives:
Ohio State’s record holder for most receptions in a collegiate career
Team captain known for his football character and intelligence
Savvy and accomplished route runner that can beat both man and zone coverage
Highly productive from the slot and offers inside and out flexibility
Effective safety valve on screens, short passes, and intermediate routes
First down merchant and chain mover on third down
Sports some of the best yards after the catch ability in this draft
Physical receiver who does well blocking in the run game
Possesses top-tier ball tracking skills and can win in contested catch scenarios
Offers special teams potential as a returner
Negatives:
Uptick in drops in 2024 (five) compared to years prior
Not an overly dynamic or explosive athlete compared to some of the other top receivers in the class
Isn’t going to peel the lid off the backend of opposing defenses or consistently be a high-profile vertical threat
Missed several games in his junior season due to an ankle issue that required surgery
Above-average traits might hold him back from ever being a true #1 receiver
Hart’s Projection: Top 25 Selection | Mid-to-Late First Round Value
Emeka Egbuka is a legit asset in the run game.
You don’t block? You don’t play… I have a feeling Egbuka will play a long, long time run blocking like this. pic.twitter.com/pRCZ76kYxZ
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) March 3, 2025
Why the Denver Broncos should consider drafting Egbuka
I’m optimistic about the potential of the Broncos’ young receiver corps. Though I think it’s fair to say none of those in the fold are someone you can trust to give 100 targets or more each season. Couple that with the fact the cost and price tag of receivers on the market have exploded over the past few seasons, I think an argument could be made for the Broncos to strongly consider a wide receiver on Day 1 or Day 2 of this year’s draft.
In my opinion, Egbuka is one of the safest prospects in this draft. With 60 games of collegiate experience under his belt, he is wise beyond his years and arguably one of the most polished receivers available. While he may lack the physical attributes and top-tier athleticism to be a top-tier number one in the league, his overall talent should allow him to grow into a quality number two receiver in the National Football League.
It’s hard to bet against that possibility. After all, he has demonstrated that ability throughout his collegiate career playing alongside other top-ranked wide receivers. All in all, the positives significantly outweigh any of the concerns with him. There are a handful of other prospects on offense and defense I’d prefer, but he certainly merits consideration for the Broncos in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.