Jaxon Smith-Njigba is an NFL wide receiver drafted in 2023 by the Seattle Seahawks. He was a highly-touted recruit coming out of high school, ranked as a top-50 player nationally according to 247Sports. Smith-Njigba played sparingly as a true freshman in 2020 at Ohio State. Three future first-round picks: Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, and Jameson Williams, were ahead of him on the depth chart.
Smith-Njigba broke out in his second season with Buckeyes after Williams transferred to Alabama. Smith-Njigba outproduced both Wilson and Olave with over 1,600 receiving yards and 9 receiving touchdowns on 95 receptions. Injuries limited him to three games in his junior season and he totaled just 43 receiving yards, but Smith-Njigba had done enough in the 2021 season to be the most sought-after receiver in his draft class.
Smith-Njigba measured in at 6-0 and 196-pounds prior to the NFL Draft. His 4.57 40-time was below average, but he recorded a 99th-percentile 10.40 Agility Score. Combined with his college production and route-running ability which was evident on film, Smith-Njigba was selected with the 20th overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks. He is a strong addition to an already-stellar wide receiver room, already manned by DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Smith-Njigba is no stranger to competing for targets, and should be considered in the conversation with the league's best young star wide receivers.
