How each Seattle Seahawks 2023 draft pick can help the team
By Boade Rowe
Seahawks 1st round, 20th overall pick - Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Wide receiver, Ohio State
The selection of Smith-Njigba is my favorite value pick in this entire draft. Smith-Njigba was my highest-rated wide receiver in the draft, and the Seahawks echoed that sentiment by making him the first receiver off the board. Even though the Seahawks already have Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf, the selection of Smith-Njigba shows that John Schneider believes he has the right quarterback on the roster and wants to surround him with playmakers.
This is an excellent sign for Geno, Smith-Njigba, and whoever may succeed Geno Smith. Ohio State is no stranger to producing NFL talent, especially in recent memory. (Michael Thomas, Garrett Wilson, and Chris Olave). The current OSU wide receiver coach, Brian Hartline, has stated that Smith-Njigba has been the best wide receiver in the program since his start in 2017. Both Garret Wilson and Chris Olave shared that opinion in an interview while at Ohio State, saying that Jaxon is the best receiver out of the three.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba owns the most prolific Rose Bowl performance by a wide receiver in college football history. Smith-Njigba had 346 yards and three touchdowns against a Utah secondary that looked helpless against him. Jaxon moves so fluently and decisively that whether it’s during the route or after the catch, Smith-Njigba frequently leaves defenders in an unadvantageous position. With Brian Hartline, Garrett Wilson, and Chris Olave all touting Smith-Njigba as the best wide receiver out of the program in years, Jaxon Smith-Njigba could easily take this good Seattle offense and make it extremely explosive.