Smith-Njigba informed Jonah Javad of WFAA he’s “not too pressed” to work out an extension proper now. On the identical time, although, the 24-year-old declared, “I consider I need to be the best paid at my place.”
That’s not an outlandish assertion, particularly with the wage cap always on the rise. The cap in 2025 was $279.2M. It’s poised to climb wherever from $301.2M to $305.7M subsequent season. Smith-Njigba and Rams rival receiver Puka Nacua, who’s additionally in line for an extension this offseason, must be among the many beneficiaries.
Each JSN and Nacua have arguments to surpass the contract the Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase secured final March. Chase inked a four-year, $161M pact with $112M in assured money final March. He now tops his place in complete cash, common annual worth and ensures.
For the reason that Seahawks drafted Smith-Njigba twentieth total in 2023, he has emerged as yet one more star receiver from Ohio State. Smith-Njigba, who has by no means missed a recreation, has seen his manufacturing steadily improve in every season.
A starter in simply three video games as a rookie, Smith-Njigba hauled in 63 receptions for 628 yards and 4 touchdowns. He grew to become a full-time starter in Yr 2, throughout which his numbers skyrocketed to 100-1,130-six. The uptick in manufacturing led to the primary of two straight Professional Bowls for the 6-foot, 197-pounder.
Smith-Njigba spent the overwhelming majority of his first two years working with a middling quarterback in Geno Smith, however the Seahawks shook up their QB room to nice ends in 2025. A couple of days earlier than the free agent market opened, the Seahawks agreed to ship Smith to the Raiders for a third-round choose. That quickly left them with no starter, however the Seahawks addressed the emptiness just a few days later.
After a long-awaited and sudden breakout 2024 with the Vikings, former first-rounder Sam Darnold joined the Seahawks on a three-year, $100.5M pact. Now a championship-winning QB, Darnold hit it off with Smith-Njigba of their first season collectively. The wideout ranked first within the league in yards (1,793), tied for first in 20-plus yard receptions (27), fourth in catches (119), fifth in targets (163), and tied for sixth in TDs (10). Together with OPOY and Professional Bowl honors, he was named a first-team All-Professional.
Whereas Smith-Njigba has yet another assured season on his rookie contract, the Seahawks will log off on his fifth-year choice by Could 1. Doing so would at the very least quickly set Smith-Njigba as much as play 2027 on a projected $24.39M wage. That appears like a discount for JSN, who could land a file extension earlier than then.
