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Steelers Land Two Ohio State Playmakers in Mock Draft
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- Steelers Land Two Ohio State Playmakers in Mock Draft
Emeka Egbuka in a game against Penn State on Nov. 2024. -- Matthew Lynch / Nittany Sports Now
At the NFL Combine, Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan said the team needs to add playmakers this offseason. Well, in Kyle Crabbs of the 33rd Team's latest mock draft, he has the Steelers landing two uber talented Ohio State Buckeyes in wide receiver Emeka Egbuka and running back Quinshon Judkins. The Steelers would address two key areas if they can get a draft haul like that in the early rounds.
"The pairing of Egbuka and Pittsburgh feels right — he's a tough, physical receiver who can compliment George Pickens in the short term and potentially take the WR1 mantle in the long run," Crabbs wrote. "Whoever plays quarterback in Pittsburgh will be doing so behind a well-invested offensive line, a deep tight end room, and, if Egbuka is the pick, a pair of gifted pass catchers."
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Quinshon Judkins showed out at the NFL Combine, posting a blazing-fast 4.48 time in the 40-yard dash. According to Kent Lee Platte, Judkins scored an unofficial 9.88 Relative Athletic Score out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 23 out of 1909 RB from 1987 to 2025.
The Steelers could use that kind of athleticism in the backfield. Former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky pointed out that over the last six seasons, the Steelers are the worst running football team in the NFL , averaging 3.9 yards per carry. The Steelers just lacked explosiveness with Najee Harris as their running back. His longest career run is just 37 yards.
"Learn how to run the football better. First, let me be very clear. Pittsburgh, respectfully, worst running football team in the NFL, 3.9 yards per carry. You have lost your identity as an organization," Orlovsky said on ESPN's "Get Up." "I don't care who the quarterback is. Until you fix that, it won't matter."
Egbuka been arguably the most popular name tabbed to the Steelers in this year's draft, and rightfully so.
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The 6-foot-1, 205-pound wide receiver showcased his reliable hands with just a 2.8 percent drop rate. He also recorded a career-high 81 catches for 1,011 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior on Ohio State's national championship-winning team.
Egbuka could prove to be exactly what the Steelers have been missing on offense, drawing comparisons to Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown , a two-time first-team All-Pro.
If Egbuka turns out to be anything like St. Brown, who has amassed 430 catches for 4,851 yards and 33 touchdowns through the first four years of his NFL career, the Steelers would be lucky to land him at No. 21 overall.
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