The New York Giants will send general manager Joe Schoen, head coach Brian Daboll, and several others to the Ohio State Pro Day on Wednesday but already have a head-start on meeting some of those prospects.
Andrew Groover of NFL Network reports that Schoen and Daboll met with wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba over dinner on Tuesday evening.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba dining with Giants HC Brian Daboll and GM Joe Schoen the night before @OhioStateFB pro day 🤔
— Andrew Groover (@APGroover) March 22, 2023
The 6-foot-1, 196-pound Smith-Njigba is an intriguing prospect who many believe has a high ceiling. NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein gave him a pro comparison of Jarvis Landry and views him as a “plus-starter” at the next level.
Smith-Njigba is a possession slot receiver who lacks the shake to separate underneath and the speed to run past defenses. He’s tough in the middle of the defense and has proven he can make catches in congestion. Smith-Njigba will need to fine-tune his route running to give himself his best chance to succeed at the next level. It is impossible to ignore his monster finish to the 2021 season, and he has starting slot potential, but the speed concerns coupled with an injury-plagued 2022 season threaten to negatively impact his draft stock.
The issue facing the Giants, assuming they end up targeting Smith-Njigba, is that they already have an entire stable of slot receivers — Wan’Dale Robinson, Sterling Shepard, Kalil Pimpleton and, arguably, the newly-signed Parris Campbell.
Of course, Schoen has repeatedly dismissed the notion of needing a true No. 1 wide receiver, stating that if a player can get open, Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka will find a role for them.
