Jaxon Smith-Njigba A 'Perfect' Texans 1st Round NFL Draft Pick?

The Houston Texans seem fixated on Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud at No. 2, but could Jaxon Smith-Njigba be the steal of the 2023 NFL Draft at No. 12?

The upside to a last-place finish in the AFC South are the two first-round selections that the Houston Texans have in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft. 

With picks No. 2 and No. 12, what will make their draft day a home run hit?

Pro Football Focus outlined a 'perfect' first round for the Texans, with receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba following after either Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud, saying:

"After trading away wide receiver Brandin Cooks, the Texans will then need to grab a receiver to help their young passer. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the top receiver in the class on a number of boards, and he may have the highest floor of the group. He will be a productive player regardless of role, but the possibility of him being more at the NFL level than he was in college certainly exists.

Much news has circulated around the Texans' interest in Young and Stroud. 

Houston recently announced that they'd be evaluating them along with an ensemble of other upper-rung quarterbacks in the coming weeks. Management will take a QB first.

The No. 12 pick proves to be crucial in its own right and a dynamic pass-catcher is desired to reinforce a receiving corp that was No. 25 in receiving yards a season ago. 

The Texans recently signed tight end Dalton Schultz for aid in that department -- instantly making him the highest-volume receiver based on 2022 stats -- but a boom in the draft is where franchise alteration can happen.

Smith-Njigba is a 6-0, 197-pound prospect who missed much of his 2022 junior season at Ohio State with a hamstring injury. The last time he played a full season was in 2021, where he finished ninth in receptions (95) and third in receiving yards (1,606) among all FBS receivers.

His injury seems to be a gloss-over considering his potential ceiling. With the departure of Cooks -- who led Houston with 699 receiving yards in 2022 -- no other pass-catcher went for more than 548 yards a season ago. 

Without a bonafide 1,000-plus yard talent, any team's chances at winning the Super Bowl are slim.

Smith-Njigba will be on the radar as a potential running mate that can develop continuity with whichever fellow rookie quarterback the Texans bring into the fold and lift the franchise back into playoff relevancy.

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