Todd McShay doesn’t think Jaxon Smith-Njigba is a first-round pick

Here we go again. ESPNs Todd McShay says he doesn’t think that Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is a first-round pick.

Of course, Smith-Njigba was hurt most of the year and wasn’t able to show if he could repeat his spectacular sophomore season, but we’re not dealing with an injury that is career-threatening. All hamstring issues are different; unfortunately for JSN, it just kept lingering.

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Talking about the upcoming NFL draft, McShay had this to say about the Buckeye receiver.

“Coming into the season, prior to the injury, talking to scouts, it was like, ‘All right, his production was outstanding and what he did was amazing, but maybe it’s more system than talent.’ “Because where’s the explosive trait? Where’s the speed? Where’s the vertical ability? There’s drops on tape. So there’s all those things. But then you go back and say, ‘He found a way.’ So I struggle with Jaxon Smith-Njigba, I really do, because I see the talent there. I see the ability to create. But I do I think he’s going to be a No. 3 receiver. And every NFL scout that I’ve talked to said, ‘You take a No. 3 early-mid-second-round pick. That’s not a first-round pick. Mel’s got him at No. 5 overall. That’s fine. We can disagree on that. It’s OK. But I think there’s something missing there. And maybe I’ll be proven wrong.”

McShay thinks that JSN will be a No. 3 receiver at the next level and that  No. 3 receivers don’t go until the second or third round of the draft.

Several NFL scouts reportedly believe that Jaxon Smith-Njigba is a “WR3” in the NFL.

ESPN’s Todd McShay said that he believes the Ohio State WR is “not” a first round pick 👀 pic.twitter.com/FWnc3pKf6y

— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) January 26, 2023

Let’s be honest, there are very few can’t miss prospects when it comes to the NFL draft. There are many factors that come into play from team dynamics to love and passion for the game. It’s why we see first-rounders fizzle out at times and guys picked in the fifth round come out of nowhere.

Smith-Njigba may not be the explosive over-the-top threat that Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave were, but he certainly runs excellent routes, knows how to get open, and has reliable hands. Something tells me, he’s going to be just fine at the next level.

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