Roughly a month into the NFL’s official offseason, the Green Bay Packers have been relatively inactive. The team still requires reinforcements in the edge rusher and cornerback roles on defense, and they also lack a true top-tier wide receiver. It’s been quite some time since they’ve selected a receiver in the draft’s first round.

Nonetheless, executive Brian Gutekunst might need to change this pattern to elevate the team from playoff regulars to genuine Super Bowl contenders. Holding the No. 23 pick in the forthcoming draft, a recent CBS Sports mock draft suggests they might choose promising Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka. Chris Trapasso noted, “The Packers actually draft a receiver in the first round.

Imagine that. Egbuka can be effective both outside and in the slot. He excels in blocking and tracks the ball like Christian Yelich downfield.” Yelich is the Milwaukee Brewers’ star left fielder, acclaimed for three Major League Baseball All-Star appearances and the National League MVP title in 2018. Egbuka himself was a remarkable outfielder at Steilacoom High School in Washington State before he opted for football over baseball.

During his four seasons at Ohio State, he amassed 205 catches, 2,868 receiving yards, and 24 touchdown receptions. Additionally, he contributed 621 yards as a kick returner, with the majority of that coming during his freshman year. While he may not become the dominant receiver the Packers seek, he is anticipated to develop into a dependable slot receiver.

An NFL.com scouting report compared him to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, another Ohio State alum who recorded 1,130 yards and six touchdowns in 2024 for the Seattle Seahawks. Egbuka’s role in helping the Buckeyes secure this past season’s College Football Playoff National Championship, where he had six catches for 64 yards in the final game, could prepare him for the pressure of playing for a team with a passionate fan base like the Packers, whose supporters always hold high expectations.