Could a national champion wide receiver help the Los Angeles Rams replace Cooper Kupp in the 2025 NFL Draft?
It's no secret the Los Angeles Rams are interested in adding at least one or two wide receivers in the offseason. Cooper Kupp has likely played his final snap in a Rams uniform, leaving the Rams with just two wide receivers currently under contract for the team heading into 2025. That need has made wide […]
It's no secret the Los Angeles Rams are interested in adding at least one or two wide receivers in the offseason. Cooper Kupp has likely played his final snap in a Rams uniform, leaving the Rams with just two wide receivers currently under contract for the team heading into 2025.
That need has made wide receiver a popular pick for the Rams in mock drafts for the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft.
On Tuesday, both ESPN and The Athletic released mock drafts, both of whom had the Rams selecting a former national championship-winning wide receiver in Ohio State's Emeka Egbuka.
"With Cooper Kupp seemingly on his way out of L.A., the Rams have a void opposite Puka Nacua. Egbuka slots perfectly into Sean McVay's offense as arguably the most polished receiver in this year's class. A detailed route runner, Egbuka doesn't have A-level burst but understands how to create separation against man coverage and find holes against zone. Egbuka also isn't afraid to roll his sleeves up as a blocker — a requirement in McVay's offense. He's the perfect WR2 complement to pair with Nacua."
From The Athletic:
"With Cooper Kupp on his way out, the Rams don’t have many answers at receiver beyond Puka Nacua and Jordan Whittington. Egbuka is already a pro in terms of his mindset and versatile skill set."
Emeka Egbuka is as polished as they come and should be a productive pro. However, does he make sense for the Rams? I'm not entirely convinced of that.
The Rams need to diversify the wide receiver room some, in my opinion. The role that Egbuka would play for Los Angeles is one that both Puka Nacua and Jordan Whittington occupy, with a lot of underneath targets and after-the-catch ability.
Los Angeles would get suffocated by man coverage last season since Puka isn't a great separator and Cooper Kupp lost a step. Far too often, the team just lacked any vertical threat to open things up. When the Rams won the Super Bowl, Odell Beckham Jr. played that role. In 2018, it was Brandin Cooks. They need a more natural separator and a player who opens things up for the rest of the room.
As talented as he is, I'm not convinced that Egbuka is that kind of a player. There's no doubt he would be a productive player for the Rams, but is he what the Rams need? That's where this gets tough.
