We’re four weeks away from the 2023 NFL Draft and analysts are continuing to give their evaluations and comparisons for the many prospects. One big-time Ohio State star got an interesting comparison from ESPN’s Mina Kimes.
Appearing on NFL Live, Kimes made the case for the New England Patriots needing to go wide receiver in the NFL Draft. One player that stood out to her was Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Kimes suggested that Smith-Njigba would be a perfect fit because of how his skillset reminds her of a Patriots legend, former Super Bowl LIII MVP Julian Edelman.
“A player I particularly love for them … Jaxon Smith-Njigba out of Ohio State, maybe because he reminds me a little bit of Julian Edelman. He’s got the route running, the hands, he can get tough yards after the catch. It’s easy for me to imagine him slotting right into a Bill O’Brien offense.”
.@minakimes thinks the Patriots should look to add another WR 🙌
“A player I particularly love for them … Jaxon Smith-Njigba out of Ohio State, maybe because he reminds me a little bit of Julian Edelman.” pic.twitter.com/E3mCeh5VWR
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) March 31, 2023
The New England Patriots haven’t exactly had the best track record in drafting wide receivers early in recent years. They’ve drafted nine in the last 10 years and none of them are particularly distinguished.
But after the year they just had, the Patriots clearly need to change some things up. If that means taking a gamble on a talented wide receiver who can give their struggling QBs some help, they might as well go for it.
Would Jaxon Smith-Njigba be a good fit for the Patriots?