Smith-Njigba makes his case
Despite being limited by injury in final college season, he has the makings of a No. 1 receiver
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The first time Maada Smith-Njigba realized his son Jaxon was special was when he was in high school.
Jaxon was playing football for Rockwall outside of Dallas at the time, and about to face Longview.
Hoping to motivate his son, Maada told Jaxon that he’d pay him $1 for every yard he gained. That was all Jaxon apparently needed to hear. He hit a double move, made the safety fall and scored a 70-yard touchdown on the first play of the game.
“I had to come off about $350,” his father said, laughing at the memory. “70 off the rip. Zelle, out the bank account from mine to his.”
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is hoping to prove to NFL teams just how special he is too. Smith-Njigba participated in Ohio State’s pro day Wednesday, running a 4.5 in the 40-yard dash, and catching passes from C.J. Stroud during his throwing session.
Smith Njigba looked clean with his route running and caught every pass that came his way.
One of the biggest questions marks about the Ohio State wide receiver was his health. He played in only three games during the 2022 season as he dealt with a hamstring injury. Ohio State made it to the College Football Playoffs but lost by a field goal to the eventual champions, Georgia. Smith-Njigba was not available.
He declared for the draft after the season.
“I feel healthy,” Smith-Njigba said, when asked what he was hoping to prove at his pro day. “I feel 100 percent. I feel ready to go, ready to attack the league.
“I felt like I ran good. I felt like strong. I felt like my agility, elusiveness, change of direction was something I wanted to showcase today. I felt like in the combine, I was pretty much smooth and relaxed, so I tried to show my creativity in my routes and I think I did a pretty good job. I wish I could have some back, but I always think that.”
Most draft experts have said he’ll be on the board when the Texans pick at No. 12, and some have suggested that if the Texans want to draft a wide receiver, they should trade back to do so.
But with his recent performances at the combine, and again at his pro day, that might change. Playmakers are needed in the NFL, and Smith-Njigba might be the first wide receiver off the board.
“Absolutely, he’s helped himself,” CBS Sports draft analyst Ryan Wilson said. “He played three games, had five catches, coming off 2022. We had Garrett Wilson tell us this, and C.J. Stroud tell us this, that Jaxon was the best wide receiver on that (Ohio State) team in 2021.”
“He ran a 4.5, 4.52, and that’s plenty of fast.”
Smith-Njigba said he met with the Texans at the NFL Scouting Combine for a formal interview, and has a top-30 visit lined up with the team soon, but couldn’t recall the exact date.
The 6-foot, 198-pound receiver was a standout for the Buckeyes in 2021. He played with 2022 NFL offensive rookie of the year Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave and Marvin Harrison Jr., a projected top pick in the 2024 draft.
Smith-Njigba led that team with 95 catches for 1,606 yards receiving. He also had nine touchdowns. But he primarily played out of the slot and that has caused some teams to question whether he can play on the outside.
Smith-Njigba says he can. He said he’s not just a slot receiver.
“I felt like growing up I was never just a slot receiver until that 2021 season just because we had two great guys on the outside — Chris and Garrett,” SmithNjigba told the Chronicle. “Got comfortable there, learned a lot of things. Learned a lot about football and coverages playing the slot.
“I was going to play a lot of outside in 2023. Wasn’t able to get the chance to do that, but I feel comfortable wherever the coach needs me to be.”
Ohio State coach Ryan Day and his teammates agree.
When Day is asked SmithNjigba’s strengths, he counters.
“I think more it’s: ‘what are his weaknesses,’ because he does everything really well,” Day said. “His ball skills, his change of direction. The way he runs routes. His strengths. He’s very strong. His speed. I haven’t really seen Jaxon get covered very often, if ever.
“He just finds ways to get open and catches the ball.”
That’s what the Texans need. They need to add weapons to help their future franchise quarterback, whomever they draft with the No. 2 pick.
This offseason, the Texans traded their top wideout Brandin Cooks to the Dallas Cowboys. They also signed veteran Robert Woods and slot Noah Brown to pair with Nico Collins and John Metchie, who is expected to return this season after being diagnosed with cancer last year.
But none of those players are considered No. 1 wide receiver. They combined for 133 catches for 1,563 yards and seven touchdowns in 2022.
Smith-Njigba, the potential first receiver off the board, could potentially be that.
“He can do anything you want him to do on the football field,” Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. said. “Put him in the backfield if you want.
“Put him in the slot, on the outside, run every route. His ball skills are tremendous. I think there’s not really a weakness in his game that you can point out.
“That’s why he’s Wide Receiver 1.”