The Green Bay Packers, like the rest of the NFL, are at the combine trying to figure out who they want to draft in April. After the departure of Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling during the 2022 off-season, many thought that a wide receiver would be on their mind in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft. That wasn’t the case as they took two defensive studs from Georgia. They did, however, land play makers Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs. One year later, the Packers are once again rumored to be interested in a wide receiver in the first round. Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba added to those rumors.
Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba Makes Statement Regarding What The Green Bay Packers Are Looking For
Per Gery Woelfel:
I asked ex-Ohio St. star Jaxon Smith-Njigba his take away from a formal meeting with the Packers Tuesday at the Combine: “They are definitely looking for a receiver.”
The Green Bay Packers haven’t taken a wide receiver in the first round of the NFL draft since 2002. That year the Green Bay Packers selected Javon Walker with the 20th overall pick. Could that trend break nearly 20 years later? The Green Bay Packers have also shown a lot of interest in the safety position.
They have also been mocked to take a tight end with their 15th overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. Those are both areas of concern for the Green Bay Packers, possibly more so than the wide receiver position. However, if the Packers are truly going to take the “best player available” with their 15th overall pick, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba is there, it would be hard to pass up.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba attended Rockwall High School in Texas. He was rated a 4 star recruit by ESPN and handed a 5 star grade by 247 Sports. Following high school, Smith-Njigba opted to join Ohio State.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Ohio State Stats:
| Season | Games | Receiving | Returning | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yards | Avg | TD | Att | Yards | Avg | TD | |
| Ohio State Buckeyes | ||||||||||
| 2020 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 49 | 4.9 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 3.7 | 0 |
| 2021 | 13 | 13 | 95 | 1,606 | 16.9 | 9 | 8 | 60 | 7.5 | 0 |
| 2022 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 43 | 8.6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Career[14] | 22 | 15 | 109 | 1,691 | 15.5 | 10 | 11 | 71 | 6.5 | 0 |
If Green Bay is on the board and Smith-Njigba is still available I think it is very safe to say they will at least consider it. He is a special talent that is a projected first round pick for a reason. Even after missing most of 2022 due to injury (hamstring). Adding more weapons for Aaron Rodgers (or Jordan Love) would be huge for this offense.
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