Jaxon Smith-Njigba Was at Fenway Talking About How Much He Loves Boston and Saying He Might Be Back 'in a Few Months'

Ohio State's Jaxon Smith-Njigba is, by practically unanimous consent, the second best wide receiver prospect in the 2023 Draft. In a very deep, talented class of wideouts. He is also considered by far the best slot receiver on the board. And while I'll get into all the potential picks in the next day or two, he's seems like the perfect fit for the Patriots, assuming he's still on the board at No. 14. 

He also, as fate would have it, has a brother who was in town last night, driving in runs for the Pirates at Fenway:

More to the point, Jaxon was in the stands watching Canaan play. And while you were no doubt watching UConn vaporize San Diego State, NESN got hold of Jaxon for an interview. Hilariously, as it turns out, while Canaan was in the middle of an inning, busting the balls of some Massholes along the left field line who (I think) were asking him to toss a ball up to them:

Obviously the money shot of those two minutes was the stuff about how much he loves it here, how great he's been treated, and the possibility he's "here in a few months." Which is sweet, sweet music to these ears. 

Before we go another sentence, I'm not naive. I know how this works. Prospects have no more say in when they're being selected than I did when we were picking sides for kickball in gym class and I was going through my Fat Period (Grades 3-6). Unless you're John Elway or Eli Manning, you have no choice but to play where you're told to play. I get this. 

Nor would any prospect whose getting good advice ever say anything but how much they love it in [insert city name here]. Any more than a band on tour would dare suggest that the people they're talking to don't rock harder than every other town. Even if Jaxon Smith-Njigba was asked how he'd feel about playing for Carolina, it's just good for business to say how swell that would be. 

And yet, this was still great to hear. The Patriots used one of their Combine visits to meet with Smith-Njigba. Where he just so happened to post the fastest time at their favorite event, the 3-cone drill, with a scorching 6.57. It's been reported that at Ohio State's Pro Day, they had "extensive" meetings with him and blue chip tackle Paris Johnson. And the fact he's showing up on a frigid, windy night at Fenway for what felt like a prearranged live interview? It's just one of those situations where you feel like the planets are aligned to create some metaphysical magic. 

At least that's how it felt to me watching live. Tuning into an early April Red Sox game and maybe finding the man who's going to fill the vacuum that's been in my soul since Julian Edelman retired. The Patriots passing offense has always run through the slot receiver and the tight ends. You can cite Randy Moss all you want, but great as he was, he benefited hugely from having the best slot in the league in Wes Welker. Jaxon Smith-Njigba would be the next great one, no doubt in my mind. So I'm going to dream that the Pats have told him they'll take him at 14, made arrangements to get him to Fenway and in front of the TV cameras, and the master plan is going to perfection. This is how I do it. I reject your reality and substitute my own. And when he's drafted by the Jets with the 13th pick, Belichick drops back into the 2nd round and selects a guard from a small school, let's forget this blog every happened.