The New England Patriots could have more competition in front of them when it comes to adding a top receiver prospect on the first night of the 2023 NFL draft on Thursday.
Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline posted on social media that he had heard from multiple people that the Green Bay Packers swapping the No. 15 and No. 13 picks with the New York Jets in the Aaron Rodgers trade was to help their chances of drafting Ohio State wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
There are still teams that could grab Smith Njigba, most notably the Houston Texans, before he even falls to No. 13. But the Packers made sure to get ahead of the Patriots, who could be another team in the market for a wide receiver on draft night.
Number of people tell me the move from 15 to 13 for Green Bay is the hopes it will be easier to secure Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
— Tony Pauline (@TonyPauline) April 24, 2023
Things could get interesting if the Texans grab Smith-Njigba ahead of Green Bay. Would the Packers change course and take another explosive receiver, like Boston College’s Zay Flowers off the board?
Along with Smith-Njigba, Flowers is another receiver that has been mocked to the Patriots in the first round. If anything, this news shows the ripple effect down the board when teams are on the clock and actual decisions are being made.
The possibility of Smith-Njigba and Flowers both being gone could push the Patriots to addressing another position entirely and waiting later in the draft to pick a receiver.
