The best NFL fit for Ohio State receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba in 2023 NFL Draft

Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba seems primed to be the next great receiver for the Buckeyes. Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson leaving for the NFL leaves an opportunity for him to shine in Columbus in 2022. Any success of his this fall should help solidify him as a top NFL Draft pick himself.

PFF’s Michael Renner recently listed a prospect for each NFL franchise to keep their eye on this season. Renner listed the Houston Texans as the team that should follow Smith-Njigba this year.

“The Texans haven’t had a truly dominant receiving option since DeAndre Hopkins,” said Renner. “With the roster in the shape that it’s in, they could easily find themselves close enough to the top of the draft to take a new franchise-type wideout.”

The attention on the Buckeyes’ pro receiving duo helped Smith-Njigba break out as a sophomore. He totaled 95 catches for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns last season. Ohio State got to see what he could do as wide receiver one during the 2021 Rose Bowl. He finished with 15 catches for 347 yards and three touchdowns in their 48-45 win over Utah.

His explosive production and the efficiency of it makes him one of the top prospects in the draft. He did it with a lot of focus on other receivers, though. Smith-Njigba will have a chance to mute that point as the star of the show this season.

“JSN hauled in 95 of his 112 targets last year (84.8%) for 1,595 yards and nine scores last year, good for a 91.9 PFF receiving grade that ranked first among qualifying receivers,” Renner said. “The Buckeyes have developed quite the habit of producing NFL talent at the wide receiver position, and Smith-Njigba appears next in line.”

Davis Mills is the Texans quarterback at the present moment. Regardless of who their starter is moving forward, they’ll need better receiver talent on the outside. If the trend continues, picking a Buckeye wideout like Smith-Njigba could project to be a home run pick for the franchise.