The Seattle Seahawks reportedly agreed to a four-year, $168.6 million extension with wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Smith-Njigba’s new contract will make him the highest-paid wide receiver, with him averaging $42.15 million per year.
The Seahawks extended Smith-Njigba after exercising his fifth-year option on Friday. The team also picked up the fifth-year option for defensive back Devon Witherspoon. The 24-year-old receiver will now be under contract through the 2031 season.
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Smith-Njigba is coming off a breakout season with the Seahawks. Last year, he finished with 119 catches for a league-leading 1,793 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, all career highs and breaking several Seahawks franchise records.
While most of Smith-Njigba’s production happened in the first half of the season, he stepped up when the Seahawks needed him most. Despite the Seahawks relying more on Kenneth Walker and the running game during their Super Bowl run, Smith-Njigba had 10 catches for 153 yards and a touchdown in the Seahawks’ 31-27 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC championship. This earned him the Offensive Player of the Year award and first-team All-Pro honors for the first time in his career.
The Seahawks rewarded Smith-Njigba, who was coming off his third NFL season after the team drafted him in the first round out of Ohio State in 2023. After finishing with 63 catches for 628 yards and four touchdowns during his rookie season, Smith-Njigba has posted two consecutive seasons over 1,000 yards despite playing under three different offensive coordinators. He will play for a new offensive coordinator, Brian Fleury, next season after Klint Kubiak left to become the Las Vegas Raiders’ head coach.
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With Kubiak’s departure and Walker signing with the Kansas City Chiefs, Smith-Njigba and quarterback Sam Darnold are expected to be the Seahawks’ main offensive leaders. The team also re-signed 2022 first-round pick offensive tackle Charles Cross to a four-year, $104.4M deal in January.
With Smith-Njigba extended, the Seahawks are likely to shift their focus toward re-signing Witherspoon. The 25-year-old cornerback has been a key part of the Seahawks’ defense under head coach Mike MacDonald.
Last season, Witherspoon had 72 tackles, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble and was named second-team All-Pro. His breakout game came in the Super Bowl, where he recorded four tackles, a sack and pressured New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye after blitzing from the slot.
