Packers coach Matt LaFleur loves playmakers who aren’t afraid to get physical in the run game. That edge helped Malik Heath earn a roster spot in 2023—and more snaps as the year went on.
“Our receivers blocking, I can't say enough about the job that (Dontayvion) Wicks does out there, the physicality. When you get it from the skill positions, it changes the complexion of your team,” LaFleur said after the Thanksgiving win over the Dolphins. "Obviously, Josh Jacobs has been huge, he just continues to run really hard. Tucker Kraft, I can't say enough great things about him, his ability to get downhill, he's a tough guy to tackle. Really, in every phase of the game, I think our guys are being extremely physical. That's something we can hang our hat on.”
The Packers should have opportunities in the draft to add to that physicality—and they could start with an Ohio State wide receiver who did plenty of dirty work in the run game for the Buckeyes.
Emeka Egbuka is a two-time Third-Team All-Big Ten selection, a Second-Team All-Big Ten honoree, and a 2024 national champion. He’s a dynamic playmaker who could fill a similar gadget role to Jayden Reed—but he'll enter the NFL as a far more polished run blocker than Reed was as a rookie in 2023.
He’s a high-motor blocker who consistently looks to lock onto defenders and create space on the edge for his teammates. His effort never wavers—he plays through the whistle on every snap.
ESPN ranked the Packers 23rd in run block win rate last season. While the run game was still effective, much of that success came from Josh Jacobs’ ability to break tackles. Imagine how productive he could be with an offense that consistently opens lanes for him.
Egbuka is easily among the top receivers in the 2025 draft and should be a top-20 pick. However, if he’s still on the board at pick 23, he could be a sneaky option for the Packers. They haven’t taken a receiver in the first round since 2002, but Egbuka does all the little things right—and that might be enough to break the streak.
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