Kansas City Chiefs: 7 Players worth trading up for in Round 1
By Grant Tuttle
3. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
Why he’s worth the risk:
If the Chiefs are able to take Jaxon Smith-Njigba, it would solidify the receiving corps and give the Chiefs their new top option at wide receiver. Smith-Njigba is an elite route runner that is twitchy in and out of his breaks. With a great understanding of leverage and an ability to get off of tough press coverages, the Chiefs would get a new headache for opposing defenses.
The combination of Skyy Moore, Kadarius Toney, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba would provide an explosive group of receivers for Patrick Mahomes. Each of them is very talented not only in their ability to separate but also in their ability to create yardage after the catch. In Andy Reid’s West Coast system, it would be a group and match made in Heaven.
Why he could fall:
This draft class has several talented receivers in it. It could be a “pick ’em” in terms of who teams like the most. Quentin Johnston, Jordan Addison, and Zay Flowers could all be in contention for the top wide receiver picked in the draft. Due to this talented crop, someone is bound to fall. In this case, Smith-Njigba could be the guy.
Where is the “sweet spot” for moving up?: #15-#23
While Smith-Njigba doesn’t have the same home run potential that Quentin Johnston has, he is truly electric. The Chiefs could stick around and wait to see which receiver falls to 31, or they could trade up to grab one of the top-end guys. Smith-Njigba would not only be a great fit, but also he would have the potential to develop into a top 5-10 receiver in the NFL.