2023 NFL mock draft: Seahawks get surprise QB, Jaguars add missing piece

16. Los Angeles Chargers: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

The Los Angeles Chargers have to understand something — with Justin Herbert, they’ve got it good. I don’t know what is going to happen as far as the fate of this team regarding the 2022 playoffs, or what that could mean for head coach Brandon Staley, but I do know that the Chargers consistently have injury issues on both sides of the ball and this year, they’ve been particularly snake-bitten at the wide receiver spot. It would be more than a luxury to have someone like Jaxon Smith-Njigba in Los Angeles.

It could make their offense downright deadly. This is a team that has consistently underwhelmed in December and consistently underwhelmed late in games. Not to be overly hyperbolic, but a player like Smith-Njigba could just make everyone in this Los Angeles offense better. Not to mention, he’s a playmaker in his own right.

17. Seattle Seahawks: Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina

The Seattle Seahawks have to be thrilled with their 2022 rookie class as a whole, especially because the jury is still out on some of their best picks that haven’t made their way into the regular rotation just yet for one reason or the other. In particular, a couple of picks at the cornerback position — Coby Bryant and Tariq Woolen — have paid off in a big way this season.

Woolen is among the NFL leaders in interceptions with six. Bryant has four forced fumbles. Although the Seahawks are sliding a bit right now and although the defense hasn’t been good most of the season as a whole, those two have helped them get takeaways and more chances for their offense to win some close games.

Cam Smith out of South Carolina could give them a really great, young trio out there and physically — 6-foot-1, 187 pounds — he seems pretty on-brand for what the Seahawks look for in terms of guys with a lot of length.