Jaxon Smith-Njigba: Clear WR1 in 2023 NFL Draft Class
It’s criminal the type of fall off Ohio State receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba has received during the 2022 college football season.
Entering the year, it was a clear race between him and USC’s Jordan Addison for WR1 in this draft class, and now I am seeing some rankings that have him as far down as fourth. Injuries derailed the star receiver’s year in 2022 after setting a Big Ten record for receiving yards in 2021 with 1,606, which we will touch on later.
The disrespect is real, and I am here to set the record straight: There’s no one better in the draft class than Smith-Njigba.
Let’s get into the strengths, because boy is there a lot of them.
You’ll be hard pressed to find a better route runner in this year’s draft class than Smith-Njigba. The way he can create separation both at the line of scrimmage and down the field using his footwork is second to none. His football IQ is great, always keeping eyes on his quarterback during scramble situations and relentlessly works back to the quarterback to become available for him.
He has outstanding hands as well, as in 2021 when targeted, C.J. Stroud posted a 141.8 QBR. The speed concern I disagree with. Smith-Njigba should run sub-4.4 in the 40-yard dash, which this writer thinks is plenty enough to succeed at the next level.
I want to go back and speak on his 2021 stats like I mentioned earlier. I’m going to give you three players from Ohio State in 2021 and I want you to rank them.
- Player A: 70 catches, 1,058 yards nine touchdowns
- Player B: 95 catches, 1,606 yards nine touchdowns
- Player C: 65 catches, 936 yards 13 touchdowns
I know we know player B, but can you guess who players A and C are?
Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, both of which who had fantastic rookie seasons for the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints, respectfully. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is better than both of those guys, and they were at the top of peoples rankings last year. Ohio State has Marvin Harrison Jr. returning next year who just might be the best of the bunch. OSU is turning into WRU.
I don’t want to hear this nonsense about Quentin Johnston being the best receiver in the 2023 NFL Draft class. Miss me with that. In the biggest game of his career to this point he was nonexistent: one catch for three yards. I’ll pass. I’m still waiting to hear Kam’s rebuttal, if we ever get it.
If I am a receiver-needy team and both guys are on the board, I have full confidence in taking Jaxon Smith-Njigba and I will sleep like a baby afterwards.
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17/365
