Jaxon Smith-Njigba has become the most valuable wide receiver in the league today, a status he earned through a steady increase in production since entering the NFL in 2023. That growth was capped off by him leading the league in receiving yards and hoisting the Lombardi trophy this past season.
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The Seattle Seahawks have awarded the 24-year-old with a four-year, $168.6-million contract that includes an average annual salary of more than $42 million and a little more than $120 million in guarantees. Given the sheer volume of the deal, many have begun to wonder whether or not it was actually a wise move.
The feeling is that Seattle is moving into tricky waters by spending that much cash on a wide receiver. But according to Maxx Crosby, the indulgence of Smith-Njigba makes all the sense in the world.
“It’s smart both ways,” the five-time Pro Bowler suggested during the most recent episode of his self-titled podcast.
“You lock in your franchise receiver, who’s a f**king animal, he’s so good. They got it done right now because they know it’s only going to go up, the price tag. So the team, I think, was smart to be like ‘No. Let’s get this done ASAP.’ They got it done, and big shout-out to JSN, bro. You earned that bread,” added Crosby.
The sweet spot for Seattle is that Smith-Njigba will still be playing on his rookie contract in 2026. Also, he would accept his fifth-year option in 2027. In other words, his new deal won’t kick in until 2028. That gives the Seahawks plenty of time to make all adjustments regarding both Smith-Njigba and any other cap space or contract issues that may arise in the near future.
Considering all these factors, the deal was nothing but an absolute masterclass by the team’s general manager, John Schneider, who himself has had a one-of-a-kind achievement. He has won multiple Super Bowls with the same franchise but with completely different rosters.
From the on-field talent to the front office, Seattle is beginning to look like it may just be the next budding dynasty of the National Football League. Of course, they’ll need a few more championships before they can seriously begin to make that claim. While that’s easier said than done, that may not be the case for a franchise that currently ranks inside the top-10 in terms of cap space.
They also feature one of the more elite defenses in recent memory, as well as a relatively cheap yet efficient quarterback and the 2025 Offensive Player of the Year. So there are plenty of reasons the league should be approaching them with a bit more reverence moving forward.
