Quarterback Sam Darnold finally received an answer from the ghosts he saw and won his first Super Bowl title. But there is going to be much-needed attention for wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
JSN has a compelling reason to be the NFL’s highest-paid receiver in football. Over the course of the 2025 NFL season, he proved himself to be one of the most dangerous offensive weapons.
The reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year recorded 119 receptions for 1,793 receiving yards and ten touchdowns, and was targeted 163 times. His receptions are a franchise record, and his receiving total was eighth-best in NFL history.
Smith-Njigba’s Growth and Maturity in the NFL
JSN has shown significant growth in his first three seasons in the league, and his statistics back it up:
- 2023: 63 receptions, 628 yards, four touchdowns
- 2024: 110 receptions, 1,130 yards, and six touchdowns (Pro Bowl)
- 2025: 119 receptions, 1,793 yards, and ten touchdowns (All-Pro and Offensive Player of the Year)
In 2025, JSN was the first Seahawk in 40 years to lead the league in receiving yards, and his 1,793 yards receiving were the eighth most in the history of professional football.
If JSN becomes the highest-paid receiver in football, he will have some competition.
Smith-Njigba Resetting and Leveraging the Market
Receivers like Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and CeeDee Lamb may have been in the NFL longer, but Smith-Njigba has leverage on the market and a clear advantage compared to some of the premier receivers in the game because of the accolades he has achieved.
Winning the Super Bowl and Offensive Player of the Year can help reset the market is the icing on the cake. Although he has these achievements, he does not have longevity. 2025 was considered his best year, but many argue that Chase’s 2024 NFL season was just as good.
If JSN performs consistently at a high level, he will get paid accordingly.