Commanders take ‘ready-made prospect’ in latest mock draft
Terry McLaurin carried Washington’s passing game with 82 catches for 1,096 yards last season, 442 more yards than any other Commanders pass-catcher. Fortunately, he’ll get a little help from his alma mater according to one recent mock draft.
Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka had just nine catches for 191 yards as a freshman before breaking out with 1,151 yards and 10 scores in 2022. He missed three games with an ankle injury in 2023 but bounced back with a career-high 81 catches for 1,011 yards and 10 more touchdowns last season. His 205 catches as a Buckeye are the most in school history.
ESPN’s Field Yates believes he’d fit perfectly with Washington and has the Commanders taking Egbuka with the 29th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Yates believes Egbuka “is among the most ready-made prospects in this class, as he features pristine route running, reliable hands and a selflessness as a blocker that the Commanders would undoubtedly love.”
His colleague Mel Kiper Jr. agrees. Kiper ranks Egbuka as the fourth-best wide receiver in the draft and 22nd-best prospect overall. He sees the 6-foot-1, 205-pound wide receiver as a ready-made option as well, referring to him as “a professional who has been playing college football.”
Kiper credits Egbuka for being detail oriented, precise and deceptively fast but more importantly, sees him as a “grinder who can make plays and pick up first downs when they are needed most.”
The scouts at Pro Football Focus like Egbuka even more than Kiper and Yates, listing him as the third-best receiver in the draft and 14th-best prospect overall. Of course, they also have him going much earlier in the draft with Cincinnati (17), Denver (20) and Pittsburgh (21) listed as possible destinations.
Time will tell, but one way or another, expect general manager Adam Peters to surround second-year quarterback Jayden Daniels with as much firepower as possible while he’s still on his rookie deal.
