Would Ezreal top in this meta work?

Would it work? With some dedication yes, of course it would.

Would it be a better choice than a different ranged, or even melee top laner? No.

It'd be pretty damn mediocre. But it's possible (With Popsicle).

But Ezreal has no peel? You could build Randuin's for E into their team->AoE slow, but other top laners would do so much better with their kit.

How often do you see a squishy in the top lane? Now how often do you see squishy's with no engage or hard cc in the top lane? ill give you a hint it rhymes with hero. And there's a reason for that.

pending match up yes. i take xerath when i know teemio will be my opponent. counter picks help alot.

If you want to make it happen, go ahead. But there are other ADCs that perform better at top .

I don't think "meta" really applies here.

Meta is all about optimal strategy. Sending a mage top lane usually deals with whether they can win lane against current top laners, whether they fit the team comp, and so on.

Since mid is usually the "burst carry" with assassins and mages, and bot is the utility support with the sustained damage carry (typically adc), top lane usually fits whatever role is needed in the team comp. AP/AD bruisers and some tanks are common, with some melee glass cannons with sustain/defensive measures.

Ezreal has three damaging spells and one escape. That's pretty average for an adc, and meh for a mage. Even if you build defense on him, what are you going to do? You can't protect your carries with hard cc, you can't peel, you don't have engaging tools, you don't have utility. You can't be as "selfish" in the top lane as you can be in bot or mid lane, you have to have some tools to be a team player.