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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Serena Burks

2023 NFL draft: Giants select WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba in latest PFF mock

It’s no secret that the New York Giants need to give Daniel Jones more tools to work with, especially down the field. The current receiving corps is struggling, dropping passes left and right.

Needless to say, it makes sense that the Giants would select a wide receiver in the 2023 draft, as indicated in the latest Pro Football Focus mock draft.

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28. NEW YORK GIANTS: WR JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA, OHIO STATE

Sikkema: JSN led the Buckeyes in receptions (95) and yards (1,595) a season ago but has been limited to only 60 snaps so far with hamstring issues. He’s a high-floor player for a receiving corps in need of such a talent.

Smith-Njigba is a junior wideout for the Ohio State Buckeyes. His on-field talent is evident on film — he’s athletic and fast, and has been one of C.J. Stroud’s favorite targets over the last two seasons.

The Giants are certainly in need of the talent JSN brings to the table. The problem is he’s spent most of the current season sidelined with a hamstring injury. The injury was sustained during the Buckeye’s game against Notre Dame at the beginning of the season, and it’s been a struggle to get him back on the field. It now looks like he may not return until OSU faces Michigan on November 26.

When he’s healthy, JSN is an elite receiver with loads of potential. He has five receptions for 43 yards over the three games he appeared in this season. Last season, though, Smith-Njigba caught 95 passes for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns. As a return man in 2020 and 2021, he returned 11 kicks for 71 yards.

If Smith-Njigba returns to the field and shows everyone that he’s still as good as he was before his injury, this would be a solid pickup for the Giants. JSN can stretch the field and provide an outlet for Jones and bring a new dimension to special teams. If he can stay healthy.

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