2023 NFL Draft: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, A Three-Phase Target Hog

Plus, are the comparison murmurs accurate to a "slot only" WR from 2020?

Let’s flash back to last fall. As college football neared, the preparation for the 2023 NFL Draft begun with very early rankings. Two names stood at the top at the receiver position: Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba and LSU’s Kayshon Boutte.

Smith-Njigba stayed fresh in everyone’s minds after a phenomenal Rose Bowl game against Utah, catching 15 passes for 347 yards and three touchdowns. Yes, Utah didn’t have some of their defense, but JSN tore them apart and put on a show of all his traits. Even without that game, Smith-Njigba cleared the 1,200-yard mark on an offense that featured both Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave.

It was a disappointing 2022 for JSN, one that was marred by injury. He hurt his hamstring in the Notre Dame game, but tried to gut it out as long as he could. He got back for the Akron game, but went down against Iowa, this time for the year.

Five catches for 43 yards isn’t ideal, and the play of Quentin Johnston and Jordan Addison leapt Smith-Njigba in the receiver rankings for many analysts. Still, Smith-Njigba did what he could to get healthy, and has aced the draft process. His combine was phenomenal, as he posted a ridiculous 3.93 20-yard shuttle (99th percentile) and 6.57-second 3-cone (98th percentile). He aced the drills too and looked smooth running routes to catch the ball. The pro day was another win for Smith-Njigba, as he ran a 4.52 40-yard dash, which is a perfectly good time for a player who doesn’t win with pure speed and explosive acceleration.

When it comes to the film, it’s easy to see why the transition for Smith-Njigba to the NFL shouldn’t be an issue.

Before The Catch

Smith-Njigba absolutely excels in this phase of the game. His prowess as a route runner shines against both man and zone. He hasn’t faced a ton of press in his time in college, but he has an 83.3% success rate versus press. Now, that’s in the slot against nickel corners and CB3s, but it gives us something.

As a route runner, he has several things that give him an advantage. The elite quicks in the short area, as evidenced by the film and the short shuttle/3-cone numbers, give him the ability to separate at the top of rotes and through route-break transitions. When coverage gets tighter at the next level, having that burst and efficiency to generate separation is a big deal.

Smith-Njigba is excellent at attacking disadvantageous leverage and turning the tables into his favor. He will leverage step to work squarely at defenders, and his ability to get defenders moving in the wrong direction to open up his route path is extremely impressive.

Smith-Njigba utilizes route tempo effectively to open windows as well. He can start slow off the line of scrimmage against off or zone coverage, and accelerate into his break point to get defenders to open up. One of his touchdowns against Utah in the Rose Bowl was a great example of said route tempo, as he hit an extra gear to stack the defender.

He hasn’t faced a ton of press, but it’s been noted by Matt Harmon that he has an 83.3% success rate against it. Yes, it’s against nickel corners and often CB3s, but his ability to utilize salesmanship and take advantage of the memory of corners to set things up is impressive. He did so against Oregon in 2021, setting up a DB with an outside release to sell a slant, but the burst he generated upfield won the rep in an instant.

The Catch Point

While Jaxon Smith-Njigba might be a little limited in terms of catch radius with his 30.5-inch arms, he still finds a way to be consistently effective at the catch point. Obviously, Smith-Njigba is a hands catcher, displaying the proper technique catching away from his frame. He can stretch out for throws outside of his frame, but the catch point is where he shines.

Without that explosive gear, there are times where Smith-Njigba is blanketed, especially when working further down the field. But, his ability to have an answer for that is a great sign. In that same Oregon game, Smith-Njigba elevated to win the ball in tight coverage, proving that (once again) separation comes in many forms. Then, there’s his play against Michigan, going around a defender to make a ludicrous play.

https://twitter.com/JakeNFLDraft/status/1464680450711068686

If a receiver needs to get out of a tougher situation like this, some natural separating route runners don’t have an answer. Smith-Njigba has shown he does.

After The Catch

Another phase of the game where Smith-Njigba shines, and it won’t disappear on Sundays. Speed and explosive burst isn’t the only way to win after the catch, and he has plenty of savvy ways to pick up yards after the catch (JSN averaged 8.3 YAC/rec in 2021 per PFF).

What stands out most is how quickly Smith-Njigba shifts from receiver to runner, setting himself for success before the ball arrives. This trait, coined “catch-to-attack transition”, highlights the ability to position one’s feet in an advantageous direction before the ball is caught. That level of pre-planning gives them an edge over defenders, and often what leads to high YAC numbers and a consistent penchant for making the first defender miss.

Smith-Njigba does that at a high level, along with his ability to sustain what level of speed he has on a curvilinear track. His well-timed stiff arm can buy him some extra yardage, and he can get creative with his footwork to freeze defenders and make them miss in space.

Are The Justin Jefferson Comps Legit?

So, because of the production, the better-than-advertised agility times, and a fine 40, many are wondering if JSN compares favorably to another receiver who was productive and played a heavy dosage of snaps in the slot. That of course is LSU’s Justin Jefferson. While Jefferson did play 98 percent of his snaps in the slot in 2019, he played 77 percent of his snaps out wide in 2018. A whole year of understanding how to combat press, vary up his release and plan of attack, and win on the outside was there already. Then, they moved him inside to dominate as the shortest of the three guys in 2019. Jefferson’s top-of-route quickness and manipulation is a trump card that Smith-Njigba doesn’t quite have, plus he’s more dynamic and explosive winning down the field. Smith-Njigba is talented, but he isn’t quite Jefferson.

Still, Jaxon Smith-Njigba is (in this writer’s opinion) the top WR in the 2023 NFL Draft. His ability to handle and excel in all three phases gives him the edge. His press reps in the NFL and consistent play against that will determine if he’s a long-term “Z”, but with more zone coverage, he should get reps out there while also dominating in the slot. He shouldn’t exit the first round undrafted.

Thanks for reading! If you want to check out a film room video for Jaxon Smith-Njigba, click here!