Report: Jaxon Smith-Njigba Graded as Only 1st-Round WR in Draft by 'Numerous Teams'

There is reportedly just one wide receiver who stands out in the eyes of multiple NFL talent evaluators leading up to the 2023 draft.

Jim Nagy, who has extensive experience as an NFL scout and as the executive director of the Reese's Senior Bowl, said he spoke to "numerous teams" and believes the league "isn't nearly as high on this year's" group of wide receivers as those in the media projecting a number of players at the position to be first-rounders.

Instead, those teams have Ohio State's Jaxon Smith-Njigba as the only wide receiver with a first-round grade.

B/R's NFL Scouting Department projected TCU's Quentin Johnston (No. 12 to Houston Texans), Boston College's Zay Flowers (No. 21 to Los Angeles Chargers), Smith-Njigba (No. 23 to Minnesota Vikings) and USC's Jordan Addison (No. 27 to Buffalo Bills) as first-rounders in its latest mock draft.

And it wouldn't be a surprise to see many of these players taken in the first round, because different teams have different draft boards.

Peter King noted in his Football Morning in America column that the "receivers are all bunched up," with one team listing Flowers as No. 1 and another ranking Addison ahead of Smith-Njigba.

King pointed to the Baltimore Ravens as a team that could pick a pass-catcher, "because the three or four top receivers should land in a bunch right around where the Ravens pick in the first round, at 22."

Smith-Njigba may be seen by many teams as the top options, but there are still some question marks after he missed much of Ohio State's 2022 campaign with a hamstring injury. He suffered the injury during the opener against Notre Dame and reaggravated it during multiple comeback attempts before shutting things down.

Still, it is impossible to ignore his talent.

He finished the 2021 season with 95 catches for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns while showing off his versatility by playing in both the slot and the outside. He led the Buckeyes in catches and receiving yards that year even though Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson were on the roster.

Olave went over 1,000 yards as a rookie for the New Orleans Saints, while Wilson took home the Offensive Rookie of the Year on the New York Jets.

"Jaxon is as good as I've ever seen, probably the best I've ever seen," Wilson told reporters when discussing Smith-Njigba when they were still teammates. "Jaxon is the most natural athlete I've ever seen."

Quotes like that are sure to stand out as NFL teams go through their evaluation process, and many apparently see the Ohio State product as the best option at his position.