Jaxon Smith-Njigba selected No. 20 overall by Seattle Seahawks in first round of NFL Draft
COLUMBUS — The Ohio State pipeline of wide receivers to the NFL has another member: Jaxon Smith-Njigba was officially selected as a first-round pick.
Smith-Njigba was taken No. 20 overall Thursday night by the Seattle Seahawks.
Smith-Njigba is the third former Ohio State star to be selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, all on offense. Quarterback C.J. Stroud was taken No. 2 overall by the Houston Texans, while left tackle Paris Johnson was selected No. 6 overall by the Arizona Cardinals.
But Jaxon Smith-Njigba is also the third Ohio State wide receiver to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft in the last two drafts, joining Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, who went No. 11 and No. 12 overall to the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints, respectively, last April.
Smith-Njigba was largely regarded as the unquestioned best receiver available in this year’s NFL Draft prior to last college football season, when he posted an absurd 95 catches for 1,606 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.
But after suffering a hamstring injury in the first game of the year for the Buckeyes, he missed nearly the entire season. Questions began to surface about whether there was a better receiver prospect for NFL teams to evaluate.
He put those questions to bed quickly at the NFL Combine — and again at the Ohio State Pro Day three weeks later. Once he hit the field for route-running drills, his 40-yard dash and other workouts to prove his hamstring is back at full strength, he cemented himself as the top option.
“I always felt like I was top receiver in the draft,” he said after his incredible workout at pro day. “Not being able to play last year, it sucked for me. One: just not being out there, and Two: just people not being able to see that year, that full progression of a year. I hope so I would think so.
“If it was me evaluating me, I would think so.”
The NFL scouts and talent evaluators obviously agreed. No receiver was taken higher in the draft than Jaxon Smith-Njigba, marking the second-straight draft that the Buckeyes had the top receiver selected.
The former Ohio State superstar and three-year playmaker is now a first-round pick, landing with the Seahawks at No. 20 overall. And the Ohio State wide receiver pipeline to the NFL continues to be impressive.
It’s not expected to slow down in the years to come, either.
