10 Essential Jaxon Smith-Njigba Rookie Cards
If an SEC fan for college ball and an AFC devotee for the NFL, Jaxon Smith-Njigba finally started popping up on your radar during the 2024 season. Even the casual NFL collector cannot ignore Smith-Njigba any longer. The Seattle Seahawks receiver earned his first Pro Bowl selection during his second NFL season and is now pacing the league in receiving yards in Year 3.
College Career
By some accounts Smith-Njigba was a one-season wonder in college and by other viewpoints – a legend. Smith-Njigba was a five-star recruit out of Rockwall High School in Rockwall, Texas, in the 2020 class. His freshman season with the Ohio State Buckeyes wasn’t as scripted, playing in seven games with 10 receptions for 49 yards and one score.
The year that stands out, and the single-game performances within, was in 2021. Smith-Njigba led the nation in receptions (95) and receiving yards (1,606) with nine touchdowns.
Twice within his sophomore season, Smith-Njigba hauled in 15 passes in a game (Nebraska and Utah). Against Utah in the 2022 Rose Bowl, Smith-Njigba was a go-to target for QB C.J. Stroud, producing 347 yards and three touchdowns off 15 receptions. The performance helped the Buckeyes beat the Utes 48-45 and Smith-Njigba set school, bowl, and FBS records in receiving yards.
The 2021 season rewrote the OSU record book for receiving yards (David Boston).
The 2022 season would be a letdown for Smith-Njigba and fans. He appeared in three games, catching five passes for 43 yards, slowed by a hamstring injury.
The NFL
The junior year on the sidelines did not scare away the Seattle Seahawks. In the 2023 NFL Draft, Seattle took their shifty slot receiver 20th overall. Smith-Njigba had a slow roll into his rookie campaign, getting three starts in 17 games. But he was a shining light for the future, hauling in 63 passes for 628 yards with four scores.
Smith-Njigba earned his breakout and Pro Bowl selection in 2024 after 100 receptions for 1,130 yards and 6 trips into the end zone. Fourteen games into his third season, Smith-Njigba has caught 96 passes with 9 scores for a league leading 1,541 yards.
In the Hobby
Scanning the Beckett Online Price Guide (OPG), every one of Smith-Njigba’s rookie cards is climbing the value ladder. We’ve picked out 10 essential Jaxon Smith-Njigba cards for the personal collection based on OPG RC labels which traditionally does not include the parallels of the base release or inserts. We snuck a few parallel card images for viewing pleasure.
*All pricing is based off the OPG.
10 Essential Jaxon Smith-Njigba Rookie Cards
2023 Certified #112 Jaxon Smith-Njigba RC
Values EX and Mint: $3 and $12
Pictured: 2023 Certified Mirror Blue #112 Jaxon Smith-Njigba /75
2023 Panini Black #191 Jaxon Smith-Njigba RC
Values EX and Mint: $2 and $12
2023 Panini Obsidian #186 Jaxon Smith-Njigba RC (base)
Values EX and Mint: $2.50 and $15
Parallel pictured: 2023 Panini Obsidian Asia Electric Etch Gold Flood #186 Jaxon Smith-Njigba /10
2023 Panini Origins #109 Jaxon Smith-Njigba RC
Values EX and Mint: $2.50 and $15
Pictured: Image variation
2023 Panini Plates and Patches #165 Jaxon Smith-Njigba RC
Values EX and Mint: $2.50 and $15
Pictured: 2023 Panini Plates and Patches Green #165 Jaxon Smith-Njigba /25
2023 Panini Contenders Optic #75 Jaxon Smith-Njigba RC
Values EX and Mint: $3 and $20
2023 Panini Gold Standard #151 Jaxon Smith-Njigba RC /99
Values EX and Mint: $4 and $25
Pictured: 2023 Panini Gold Standard Platinum #151 Jaxon Smith-Njigba /75
2023 Limited #117 Jaxon Smith-Njigba JSY AU RC /199
Values EX and Mint: $10 and $60
2023 Immaculate Collection #117 Jaxon Smith-Njigba /99
Values EX and Mint: $30 and $125
2023 Panini National Treasures #171 Jaxon Smith-Njigba JSY AU RC EXCH /99
Values EX and Mint: $40 and $250
Bonus Card
One of the highlights in any collector’s possession is a Downtown card. In 2023, Panini released eight different Downtown cards featuring Smith-Njigba. The 2023 Clearly Donruss Downtown #14 Jaxon Smith-Njigba base can reach as high as $500 in mint condition.
There are five serial numbered versions of the card:
- 2023 Clearly Donruss Downtown Holo Platinum #14 Jaxon Smith-Njigba /1
- 2023 Donruss Optic Downtown Gold Vinyl #15 Jaxon Smith-Njigba /1
- 2023 Donruss Optic Downtown White Sparkle #15 Jaxon Smith-Njigba /1
- 2023 Donruss Optic Downtown Gold #15 Jaxon Smith-Njigba /10
- 2023 Donruss Optic Downtown Black Pandora #15 Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Values for the serial numbered Smith-Njigba are hundreds if not thousands of dollars.
