Jaxon Smith-Njigba is a very AVERAGE WR1: NFL Draft Film Breakdown
In this film breakdown, we take a look at Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba my WR1 for the 2023 NFL Draft.
To me, Smith-Njigba is a high floor, low ceiling prospect, who will most likely become a solid and serviceable weapon on an NFL team's offense, but will most likely never be a stud WR1, like you would expect from a 1st Round draft pick. Despite that, Smith-Njigba is still a strong prospect, who has incredible agility and athleticism, which directly translates to his superb route-running. Smith-Njigba is an elite separator, making him perfect for the slot and underneath/over the middle routes. His lack of top end, breakaway speed, is what has me concerned about his ability on the outside, as a more vertical route runner.
Strengths:
- Route Running: Smith-Njigba has excellent footwork and technique to create separation from defenders with his route running skills.
- Hands: He has great hands and rarely drops passes thrown his way.
- Body Control: He has great body control and can adjust to make catches in tight spaces or difficult situations.
- Yards after Catch: He has good speed and elusiveness to make defenders miss after the catch.
- Football IQ: He has a great understanding of the game and can read defenses to make the right adjustments.
Weaknesses:
- Size: Smith-Njigba is not a big receiver, standing at 6 feet and weighing around 190 pounds. This could be a disadvantage against larger cornerbacks who can overpower him.
- Blocking: His blocking skills could use some improvement to become a more complete receiver.
- Deep Threat: While he has good speed, Smith-Njigba is not known as a deep threat receiver and could improve in this area.
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