Panthers Will Host Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba for Pre-Draft Visit

A big-time receiver to visit Carolina.

Could what the Carolina Panthers do at No. 1 in the 2023 NFL Draft influence how they attack their second pick in the draft? It's possible. 

Should Carolina choose Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud, they may consider using their next selection on one of his favorite targets, Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The problem is, the Panthers won't select again until No. 39, so if they want to take Stroud's teammate, they may have to move up a few spots in order to do so.

If it weren't for a hamstring injury this past fall, Smith-Njigba would be a surefire first-round pick. The injury only allowed him to play in three games and it might be a red flag for some NFL teams. Is it enough for him to slip into the second round? Maybe. A lot of mock drafts believe he will go somewhere in the mid-late 20s, but you'll find a few out there that have him falling to day two.

According to Dan Hope of Eleven Warriors, Smith-Njigba will take a pre-draft visit to Carolina in addition to Chicago, Cincinnati, and New Orleans. 

In 2021, Smith-Njigba was one of the most productive receivers in all of college football, recording 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns on 95 receptions. 

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