Although he played in just three games during his final season at Ohio State, Jaxon Smith-Njigba enters draft day as the projected No. 1 wideout in the 2023 NFL Draft class. Per Sports Interaction, Smith-Njigba is the odds-on favorite to be the first wide receiver taken at -345 odds (implied probability: 77.53 percent), as the betting market believes he has the upper hand on fellow WRs Zay Flowers (+400), Jordan Addison (+650), and Quentin Johnston (+800).
The last time we saw Smith-Njigba play a full game, he torched Utah's secondary in the 2022 Rose Bowl, racking up 347 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 15 receptions, undoubtedly taking home the game's MVP honors. His smooth route running and ability to create separation despite not being the fastest of WRs was on full display against the Utes, giving scouts and general managers a glimpse into his next-level potential.
Of course, more game tape and reps from this past season would have been nice, but when you boil it down, he's already produced a high enough level to warrant a day-one selection. Which franchise will expend first-round draft capital on this potential Pro Bowler?
Below, we'll discuss three potential landing spots for Smith-Njigba, giving our advice on how to go about betting on where the Ohio State product ultimately lands.
Who Will Draft Jaxon Smith-Njigba? NFL Draft betting odds for JSN's landing spot
Odds courtesy of Sports Interaction
| Team | Odds |
| Green Bay Packers | +200 |
| New England Patriots | +500 |
| Houston Texans | +500 |
| Chicago Bears | +700 |
| New York Jets | +700 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | +900 |
| Tennessee Titans | +1200 |
| Detroit Lions | +1400 |
| Seattle Seahawks | +1999 |
| Minnesota Vikings | +1999 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | +1999 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | +1999 |
| Baltimore Ravens | +2399 |
| New York Giants | +2399 |
| Dallas Cowboys | +2499 |
| Atlanta Falcons | +2799 |
1. Green Bay Packers (+200)
It's been 21 years since Green Bay last selected a wide receiver in the first round, but they're currently the favorite to select Smith-Njigba at +200. The Packers are slated to pick 13th after swapping first-round picks with the Jets in the Aaron Rodgers trade, and if JSN is still on the board, there's a decent chance General Manager Brian Gutekunst selects the plug-and-play slot man to help out newly appointed QB Jordan Love.
Green Bay does need to shore up its offensive line, but there's merit in drafting this dynamic of a playmaker to pair alongside second-year wideouts Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs. The Packers led all teams in drops last season (30), and adding a sure-handed receiver who posted an impressive 84.8-percent catch rate on a 22.7-percent target share during the 2021-22 season is sure to give their WR room a massive boost.
It won't result in the heftiest of paydays, but we agree with the betting market's assessment of JSN's projected landing spot and think he dons the green and gold to begin his NFL career.
2. Houston Texans (+500)
If Smith-Njigba doesn't end up a Packer, it could be a result of the Texans snagging him at pick No. 12. We're still unsure of who Houston drafts with their initial first-round selection at No. 2 overall, but if they opt for a quarterback like C.J. Stroud, drafting his sure-handed college teammate makes for a wise draft strategy.
Numerous mocks peg Smith-Njigba to Houston, and although the Texans inked fellow slot WR Robert Woods to a two-year deal this offseason, drafting a player of Smith-Njigba's caliber is still justifiable even with Woods projected as the team's Y-receiver. Smith-Njigba has expressed his desire to play both outside and in the slot at the next level even though his ceiling appears highest as a slot.
At 5-1, it wouldn't be surprising to see Houston utilize its two first-round picks on offensive players, even with a defensive-minded head coach in DeMeco Ryans.
3. Tennessee Titans (+1200)
With Woods, last season's Y-receiver departing for Houston, Tennessee could look to replace him with Smith-Njigba at pick 11. Second-year wideout Kyle Philips profiles as a potential breakout candidate this season if Tennessee doesn't draft any competition, but it's debateable whether General Manager Ran Carthon passes up on the draft's most prized wideout given he's still on the board. Tennessee also ended last season with the eighth-worst receiving grade, per PFF, so drafting a top-tier wideout seems plausible.
It's compelling to see Tennessee priced with the seventh-best odds to select Smith-Njigba considering they pick ahead of both Houston and Green Bay. Tennessee's 12-1 price tag to draft JSN could mean Carthon and company look to trade up and potentially select a QB, nixing their chances of landing JSN. Since a trade-up is feasible, we're not as confident the Titans end up going WR in the first round, but a small wager with the potential of a 12-1 payout means this isn't the worst way to expend a tiny portion of your NFL Draft betting bankroll.
