5 players the Cowboys need to avoid in the 2023 NFL Draft
By Randy Gurzi
1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
The 2018 NFL season was a tough one for Cowboys fans. That was the year they decided to move on from Dez Bryant but rather than look for a No. 1 wideout, they wanted to go with the committee approach.
Dallas rolled out Cole Beasley, Allen Hurns, and Tavon Austin and it was a mess. This was a surprise to no one other than the Jones family, but thankfully they remedied the situation with Amari Cooper.
After adding him in a trade with Oakland, the entire offense improved. His route running and ability to separate from defenders made all the difference. Of course, they messed that up as well when they traded him for nothing last year but at least they’re trying to fix this now — evidenced by the addition of Brandin Cooks as well as the presence of several wideouts during the pre-draft process.
One name that shouldn’t be on their list, however, is Jaxon Smith-Njigba from Ohio State. Much like the players in 2018, Smith-Njigba could be a solid receiver in the right system. Kind of like how Beasley looked better in Buffalo than he did with Dak Prescott during the 2018 campaign.
Prescott clearly needs players that can create that separation. This is why Cooper was so good with him as well as CeeDee Lamb. It’s also why Smith-Njigba, who doesn’t have enough burst to his game for this offense, would be better off elsewhere.
