The 2023 NFL Draft is in the books, and now it’s time for dynasty rookie drafts. Landing spots and draft capital have been determined, and we’re here with your dynasty rookie draft outlooks. Let’s take a look at what Derek Brown expects of Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
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Dynasty Rookie Draft Picks & Predictions: Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Ohio State)
Stats:
- 2021 (251 FBS WRs, minimum 50 targets)
- Yards per route run: 1st
- PFF receiving grade: 1st
- Career
- Breakout age: 75th percentile (19.6)
- Limited to three games played in 2022 due to a hamstring injury
- In 2021, he was third among FBS wide receivers (minimum 50 targets) in receiving yards (1,595) and second in YAC (790).
- 88.6% slot rate in 2021
Scouting report:
- Smith-Njigba won’t burn you in the open field with his raw speed, but that isn’t necessary for him to succeed.
- He’s a route tactician with the route-running chops of an NFL veteran. Smith-Njigba’s snap at the top of his stem is excellent, which allows him to create easy separation.
- Any team investing high draft capital in him knows what they are getting: a high-volume wide receiver that can work both inside and on the perimeter. Yes, Smith-Njigba was a slot receiver in college, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have the intangibles to get loose on the boundary.
- He wins with excellent, quick footwork at the line and in space. He’s more quick than fast. Also, in saying that, it has to be mentioned that he is plenty quick to win in the NFL.
- While it’s not a huge part of his game (only 16.1% of his 2021 target volume), he can win on vertical routes. He flashes the ability to stack corners on verticals from the slot easily. Smith-Njigba was ninth in Yards per route run on deep targets, tied for first in PFF deep receiving grade, and second in passer rating when targeted on routes 20-plus yards in 2021 (minimum 15 deep targets).
- Smith-Njigba could be an immediate target hog in the NFL.
- He will be an immediate asset to the run game. He’s a tenacious blocker who engages well with defenders and anchors them. He won’t blow defenders out of their cleats, but he has the functional strength to hold running lanes or clear a path.
Player Comp: If Robert Woods and Keenan Allen had a baby
Dynasty Outlook: Jaxon Smith-Njigba got the draft capital that we wanted, but the landing spot has some dynasty GMs worried. How will he earn targets playing alongside D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett? Will Seattle abandon their love of heavy tight end sets (28th in the usage of three or more wide receiver sets last year)? Will Smith-Njigba be a full-time player? These concerns are all valid, but I’m not frightened at all. While Lockett remains a stellar wide receiver, he is almost 31 years old and can be cut next year with the team saving nearly ten million against the cap. Drafting wide receivers in dynasty is a bet on talent. Situations can change quickly. Smith-Njigba has talent that is worth investing heavily in. He could be the number two target in this passing offense as soon as this season, if not next year. He’s the 1.02 in 1QB leagues and a top-six selection in Superflex format rookie drafts.
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