There are a number of wide receivers with first round grades, including TCU’s Quentin Johnston, USC’s Jordan Addison, Tennessee’s Jalin Hyatt, and Boston College’s Zay Flowers. All have their pluses and minuses and can bring different things to an NFL offense. But, for a number of reasons, Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba is starting to run away with the title of WR1 in the 2023 NFL Draft class. 
Smith-Njigba is a true slot receiver, spending almost 90% of his time at Ohio State on the inside. He makes up for a lack of size and top end speed with agility, body control, and strong hands. Despite being a Buckeye for the past three years, he only has one full season of production at the college level, after missing 10 games with a hamstring injury last year.
He benefitted in that full season from having first-round picks Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave surrounding him. Still, Smith-Njigba outperformed both players in 2021, with 95 receptions, to Wilson’s 70 and Olave’s 65, and 1,606 receiving yards, to Wilson’s 1,058 and Olave’s 936. He didn’t have as many receiving touchdowns as Wilson (12) or Olave (13), but he still managed to find the end zone nine times.
The Eagles, holding the 10th overall pick, have reportedly been doing some last-second research on wideouts, according to Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network, specifically doing homework on Smith-Njigba. The Jets are another team to watch here. New York would prefer to take a top offensive tackle prospect, but if none are available, it’s hard to see Smith-Njigba slipping past them at No. 13. The Cowboys have also shown some recent interest in the wide receivers of the draft, but at No. 26 overall, Smith-Njigba isn’t likely to be around.
Regardless of where he hears his name called, it’s becoming more and more apparent that Smith-Njigba is establishing himself as one of the best, if not the best, pass catching prospect in the draft. If Pauline is correct, Smith-Njigba could find himself catching passes from Jalen Hurts or Aaron Rodgers next September.
I’m a QJ fan myself
At 6’2″ height with a 6’9″ wingspan QJ should win more of the contested catches then he actually does. Smaller CB more often then not beat him to the ball. He needs to fight harder for the catch, 8 for 18 on contested catches last year, that’s not going to translate well to the NFL. I fully believe in his natural talent and ability to succeed moving forward but he is going to have to be drafted to the right team because QJ needs to be coached up to make the jump to the next level imo.
JSN catches everything thrown within 10 feet of him. He should be the first receiver. He was OSU’s best receiver and that’s saying something considering who they had.
When he has been on the field maybe. Just hasn’t stayed healthy
Even the best get injured, hopefully JSN can stay healthy, and if he is healthy he is a legitimate game changer and that is not just my opinion it is a FACT.
Reuniting him with Garrett Wilson would give the Jets a very formidable young wideout duo.
He will be fine a great comparison is Nick Bosa. People questioned his health after he decided to play it safe and not play the rest of his last year at Ohio State with his injury. I don’t see many people complaining about the 49ers drafting him. JSN was unbelievable playing a full season even better than Wilson and Olave. He will be a stud for years to come.
the same nick bosa that missed the entire 2020 season?
Yes, the Nick Bosa who made the pro bowl 3 out of 4 years in the league, had 15 sacks in 2021, and 18.5 last year as well as winning Defensive Player of the Year. Call me crazy, but I don’t think any 49ers fan regrets him being drafted.
On principle, I’d never sign a player with a hyphenated name because I have this theory that they will always want a contract extension too.
He “outperformed” Wilson and Olave because he played slot while the other two played outside- where coverage is generally much tighter.
Don’t get me wrong, I like Smith-Njiba and think he’s going to have a solid career. But I don’t think the top half of the first round is where you want to take a WR that isn’t the biggest, isn’t the fastest, pretty much exclusively played in the slot, is coming off a lost season due to injury and put up big numbers when there were two other first round wideouts on the field with him so he didn’t have to be “the” guy. After pick 17 or so, sure take him but before that there’s definitely gonna be better prospects at other positions still on the board.
the comparison was player health, so missing 25% of total games is a fair point