Until free agency rolls around where deals can become final, the Houston Texans should be linked to every interior offensive lineman and wide receiver for the upcoming NFL Draft.
Houston must improve both areas if C.J. Stroud plans to take the necessary steps forward as a pass in Year 3. No one can survive being sacked 54 times per season while being limited to underwhelming play at tight end and receiver.
Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka has become a fan favorite to reunite with his former Buckeye teammate at NRG Stadium this upcoming season. Fans are starting to believe that if the 6-foot slot receiver is on the board at No. 25, that should be the pick no questions asked.
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah also agrees the statement. With Alabama offensive lineman Tyler Booker off the board, the longtime draft analyst has Houston pivoting to Egbuka at pick No. 25 in his latest mock draft.
“C.J. Stroud gets to reunite with his college teammate,” Jeremiah wrote. “Egbuka’s professionalism and dependability would be a perfect fit in Houston.”
During Stroud’s final season in Columbus, Egbuka was the No. 2 weapon behind future first-round pick Marvin Harrison Jr. The duo connected for 74 catches and a career-best 1,151 to match his 10 touchdown receptions en route to a College Football Playoff appearance.
After being limited to 10 games in 2023, Egbuka elected to return for his senior season. The decision proved wise as he notched a second 1,000-yard campaign, serving once more as the No. 2 weapon behind Jeremiah Smith en route to a national championship.
Adding Egbuka would give Houston a long-term plan in the slot should All-Pro receiver Stefon Diggs walk in free agency. Even if Diggs were to come back on a one-year deal, his experience at the Z position would replace Tank Dell, who could miss all of 2025 with a knee injury.
Houston’s passing attack would be stabilized with a 1-2 combination of Egbuka and Pro Bowler Nico Collins for years to come. Both would be under contract through 2027 and have a strong rapport with Stroud to potentially feature one of the more dynamic passing units in league for years to come.
Egbuka ranks as Jeremiah’s No. 25 overall player in his top 50 prospects as of Jan. 28. The Washington native is considered one of the top route-runners in the class and possess similar traits to former Buckeyes star Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
“Egbuka is a strong, physical receiver with the ability to play inside or outside. He’s quick in his release, and he can fight his way through press coverage,” Jeremiah wrote in his scouting report “He is more of a one-speed route runner, but he’s very comfortable working in traffic. He attacks the ball in the air in the middle of the field. On vertical routes, he tracks the ball well and has a knack for utilizing late hands to prevent defenders from playing the pocket and poking the ball away. He has a great feel for working in zones and adjusting his route if the play is prolonged. After the catch, he relies more on toughness than pure speed to create extra yards.”
If the Texans pass on Egbuka with No. 25 overall pick, they will have five more picks to land at least one weapon to a now-deflated passing game in 2025.