Jets Get Top-Ranked Receiver in Sports Illustrated’s 2023 NFL Mock Draft 11.0

Albert Breer links Ohio State star to New York in his final mock draft prior to Round 1

The top-four offensive tackles prospects were all gone by the time the New York Jets hit the clock at No. 15 overall, but an explosive receiver fell into their hands.

Releasing his final mock projections on the eve of the 2023 National Football League Draft, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer sent Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njiba to Gang Green in Round 1.

Smith-Njiba, who was teammates with current Jet Garrett Wilson in 2021, holds the No. 1 spot on the NFL Draft Bible’s Wide Receiver Big Board.

“I know we say it every year, but I mean it this time: This is as hard a draft to predict as I can remember. … But this is what I’ve gotten after dozens of calls, texts and check-ins with every team in the league over the past two months,” wrote Breer while introducing his mock draft.

The Las Vegas Raiders were the first team to pluck an offensive tackle off the board, taking Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski at No. 7 overall. The Chicago Bears took Ohio State’s Paris Johnson Jr. In the No. 9 spot and Tennessee’s Darnell Wright went to the Tennessee Titans two picks later.

On the clock one slot prior to the Jets, the AFC East rival New England Patriots selected Georgia left tackle Broderick Jones at No. 14 overall. 

15  New York Jets (via GB): 
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

"This is where, in my opinion, the Aaron Rodgers trade costs the Jets a little—by going down from No. 13 to No. 15, New York loses the chance to land Jones, who would’ve been my pick for them in their original slot. But as it is, there’s still a spot for a slot left open by Braxton Berrios that people have assumed is earmarked for Randall Cobb. Smith-Njigba would give them another option there, and one with a considerably higher ceiling than Berrios brought to the position."

- Albert Breer (Read full mock draft)

Playing alongside first-round draft picks Wilson and Chris Olave, Smith-Nijba set Ohio State single-season records for receptions (95) and receiving yards (1,606) in 2021. The yardage total broke the Big Ten Conference record that was set by Wisconsin’s Lee Evans (1,545) 20 years earlier. 

Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njiba :: Joshua A. Bickel / USA TODAY NETWORK

The 6-foot Smith-Njiba was limited to only three games in 2022 due to persistent hamstring problems. He looked healthy at the 2023 NFL Combine, clocking the fastest times amongst all receiver participants in both the three-cone drill (6.57) and 20-yard shuttle (3.93) 

Following this week's trade with the Green Bay Packers, the Jets own five total selections in the 2023 NFL Draft. New York will hit the clock once in Rounds 1, 2 and 4 before taking two turns in Round 5. 

Round 1 will unfold on April 27 beginning at 8:00 pm ET.

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