Ted’s Talk: Predicting Ohio State receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s Seahawks rookie season

The Seattle Seahawks bolstered their receiving corps at No. 20 by choosing Jaxon Smith-Njigba out of Ohio State. He’s a savvy route runner who ought to instantly be a risk from the slot.

Athletic Profile/Comps

Relative Athletic Rating (RAS)

Mockdraftable

JSN’s 40-yard sprint was reported between 4.48 and 4.52 at his professional day, and you may see he nonetheless has a great RAS utilizing the slowest vary of that point. His model isn’t a straight-line burner since he depends on quickness – and boy, does JSN have that in spades! Each his 3-cone time of 6.57 seconds and shuttle of three.93 seconds led all gamers on the 2023 NFL mix no matter place.

One of the best-case comparability from Mockdraftable is Julian Edelman, who was a menace from the slot all through his NFL profession. JSN has nearly an identical agility and velocity scores whereas being two inches taller. That elite agility and change-of-direction is a big cause why he was so profitable getting open at OSU. Smith-Njigba additionally has nice fingers and physique management. Take a look at this catch behind the tip zone to see all of it in motion.

JSN could not have higher echelon velocity, however he’s additionally surprisingly slippery after the catch on account of his short-area quickness.

Intestine response to the decide

When the Seahawks had been again on the clock at No. 20 there hadn’t been a WR or TE chosen. JSN was on the prime of my thoughts together with Michael Mayer, so I wasn’t shocked when JSN was the choice. Much like Devon Witherspoon, Seattle had its selection of WR and took the highest man on their board as an alternative of reaching for the fifth EDGE or third DT.

It might not appear to be an enormous want on the floor, however the Seahawks have been trying to find a constant third goal and slot receiver for years. JSN set faculty data at Ohio State in 2021 with 95 receptions for 1,606 yards – that yardage whole additionally eclipsed the Large Ten file which had stood since 2001. Had he not suffered a hamstring harm that restricted him to 3 video games in 2022, JSN would very possible have been off the board earlier than No. 20 and Seattle wouldn’t have had the possibility to draft him. The specter of JSN from the slot must also unlock DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett on the surface and permit them to face extra single protection. Seattle picked their favourite WR within the vary he was anticipated to be taken. I like this decide.

Rookie season prediction

JSN will begin the 12 months because the de facto third WR and will see loads of targets off the bat. He will get open early and will probably be Geno Smith’s greatest buddy on third down and within the purple zone. JSN could not fairly be the risk after the catch within the NFL that he was in school, however I’m anticipating him to be a dependable goal proper off the bat as a rookie.

What number of balls will probably be thrown his means? JSN will undoubtedly get the targets that went to Marquise Goodwin in 2022 and can most likely steal a few of them from the TE group. I can’t count on him to have a 1,000 yard season with Metcalf and Lockett forward of him, however I’m anticipating one thing alongside the traces of fifty catches for 600 yards and 6 TDs which might evaluate favorably with Tyler Lockett’s rookie season with the Seahawks. Not a foul man to observe within the footsteps of!