Chicago Bears NFL Draft Target: Emeka Egbuka

Stephanie Amador Blondet - USA Today Sports

Dustin Riese - Senior Writer - 19 hours ago

It's hard to believe that in roughly three weeks, the 2025 NFL draft will be upon us. During those three days, the Bears not only have the opportunity to pick up another franchise-caliber player, but with four picks in the top 91 selections, they are in a great position to not only land a franchise-caliber player but also add several quality players across the board.

The closer we get to the NFL draft, the more frequent Mock drafts will become, and the latest mock draft will bring a smile to almost every single Bears fan. Not only does the most recent Mock draft have the Bears selecting an offensive lineman (Will Campbell) at No. 9, but it also projects the Bears to go heavy on offense, especially in the second round.

With Keenan Allen no longer in Chicago, the Bears are seeking another wide receiver to add to their roster. Yes, the addition of Olamide Zaccheaus will help with the wide receiver depth, but he is likely to be a No. 3 or No. 4 option, depending on the situation. In an effort to replace Allen by adding another talented wide receiver, former Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka has emerged as a potential option for the Bears, particularly in the second round.

While adding another pass catcher isn't the most pressing need for this team, it's something that Ben Johnson would love to give Caleb Williams, as he wants to give him as many weapons as possible. Egbuka is not only considered a massive weapon, but depending on who you talk to, he is viewed as a first-round talent who could fall into the Bears' lap in the second round.

At 6-1 and 205 pounds, Egbuka is the perfect size for an NFL wide receiver as he can play both outside and in the slot. He is coming off another strong season, where he hauled in 81 receptions for 1,011 yards and 10 scores, as he transitioned from being the Buckeyes' No. 1 option in 2023 to their No. 2 option in 2024, given the emergence of freak freshman Jeremiah Smith.

His 41 receptions for 515 yards in 2023 do not indicate him being a No. 1 option, but he did miss over a month of action that season due to an ankle injury, which likely contributed to the lower production. His best season as a player came during his sophomore year, as he collected 74 receptions for 1,151 yards and 10 additional scores. Add in his minimal production as a freshman, and you have a player who went on to rack up a school-record 205 receptions, an impressive feat.

Not only does he possess the consistent production that the Bears or any team is looking for, but he is also a great route runner and, by all accounts, one of the best in this year's class. That alone could benefit Williams, as he should be able to trust Egbuka in any situation.

Along with his route-running abilities, Egbuka is an outstanding athlete with elite ball-tracking skills. Although most of his production the past two seasons has come from the slot, Egbuka runs his routes with tempo and pace and does a great job influencing the coverage when needed. That alone makes him a legitimate day-one starter in any organization.

When it comes to an NFL comparison, Ebguka is drawing many comparisons to Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who ironically was a teammate of Egbuka for two seasons at Ohio State. No one is expecting Egbuka to come to Chicago, or anywhere for that matter, and put up those types of numbers, but when drawing those types of comparisons, you have to like what you see.

If the Bears are fortunate to make this move happen in the second round, they will not only be adding to an already improving offense but also to one of the more underrated wide receiver rooms. These are some of the discussions Johnson and Ryan Poles will have in the next few weeks as they look to draw up their plan for the future.