Despite an electric offense that scored 30 points in eight consecutive games in the regular season, the Buffalo Bills need to upgrade their offensive weapons. An underwhelming group led to a predictable game plan, as the Bills deployed the most conservative offense of the Josh Allen era.
Now, after another heartbreaking loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game, Buffalo needs to reset. While some of their needs need to be answered in free agency, their late first-round pick could offer them some offensive help, according to one latest mock draft.
Buffalo Bills Predicted To Select Ohio State WR in 2025 NFL Draft
The explosive running ability of James Cook, paired with an MVP season from Allen, powered Buffalo to a top-five offense, according to PFSN’s Offense+ metric. However, their passing game left much to be desired, as Allen finished with his lowest passing total in five years.
His passing yards and touchdowns were the fewest since 2019, making scoring a nightmare in the playoffs against the Baltimore Ravens and the Chiefs. However, the latest mock draft from PFSN’s Justin Lewis has the answer Buffalo needs: Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka.
“Despite taking wide receiver Keon Coleman early in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills still need weapons on the outside for reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen. Emeka Egbuka could step on the field and be the most talented and targeted receiver for the Bills immediately.”
Egbuka’s dynamic skill set would immediately boost the Bills’ offense. At 6’1”, he can stretch defenses from the slot with sharp footwork and elite separation skills and offer Allen another reliable target.
While at Ohio State, Egbuka racked up 24 touchdowns and 2,868 receiving yards, consistently proving himself as a dependable red-zone threat. His quickness off the line and ability to exploit coverage gaps could give the Bills a much-needed boost in third-down-and-clutch situations.
Emeka Egbuka’s Road to NFL
Egbuka was born in Tacoma, WA, but raised in DuPont. In high school, he was a three-sport athlete and excelled in football, basketball, and baseball for Steilacoom High School. As a junior in high school, he was named the Gatorade Player of the Year in Washington for football and was a five-star recruit, according to 247Sports, ranking as one of the top overall athletes in the country.
Egbuka signed with Ohio State, bypassing many other top universities, and gave Ohio State its next star wide receiver. He was an early enrollee in 2021 after his final high school season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He played in just 11 games as a true freshman and was a minimal contributor on offense but was excellent on special teams as a returner.
Egbuka became a household name among college football fans in his sophomore year. In his second season, he went over 1,000 yards as he and former Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud formed one of the best passing connections in the country.
Unfortunately for Egbuka, injuries and poor quarterback play plagued his junior season, and his stats significantly diminished. He ended up undergoing ankle surgery after the season, and because of his lackluster year, he opted to return for a fourth and final season in 2024.
In his last year with Ohio State, Egbuka bounced back significantly, going over the 1,000-yard mark again. He also was a key reason why the Buckeyes won the College Football Playoff National Championship. Few receivers leave college as accomplished as Egbuka was, and now he looks to continue his success as he transitions to the next level.
