Brady Henderson
Multiple Authors
RENTON, Wash. — During a information convention Wednesday to debate Jaxon Smith-Njigba‘s record-setting contract extension, Seattle Seahawks normal supervisor John Schneider remembered the frustration he felt whereas leaving the star vast receiver’s Ohio State professional day nearly precisely three years earlier.
Smith-Njigba wasn’t anticipated to run a 40-yard sprint that day whereas nonetheless recovering from the hamstring harm that lower quick his remaining faculty season. When he clocked a strong time of 4.48 seconds at 6-foot-1 and 200 kilos, Schneider was satisfied that Seattle’s possibilities of drafting him had simply vanished.
“I was like, ‘There’s no way,'” Schneider mentioned. “‘Why are we meeting with this guy?'”
The Seahawks did not think about they’d be capable to land Smith-Njigba with the twentieth decide in 2023. Three seasons, two Pro Bowls and one Offensive Player of the Year award later, Smith-Njigba has been locked up for the long run by the Super Bowl champions by way of a four-year, $168.6 million extension that he signed Wednesday.
“This is a really exciting day for the Seahawks organization,” Schneider mentioned. “When you go to ownership and you ask for an investment like this, you always have to be so cognizant of who the person is, and I’m just so proud of Jax and who he is as a person. Your parents did a great job of raising you, man. People forget how young you are.”
At 24 years previous, Smith-Njigba is now the NFL’s highest-paid receiver with a new-money common of $42.15 million. His deal, which places him beneath contract by means of 2031, additionally topped quarterback Russell Wilson’s four-year, $140 million extension from 2019 for the richest in franchise historical past.
The Seahawks felt snug making that giant of a dedication due to Smith-Njigba’s character along with his expertise. Schneider and coach Mike Macdonald made that clear Wednesday whereas seated on both facet of the receiver on stage inside a packed auditorium at workforce headquarters.
Macdonald described Smith-Njigba as dominant but humble.
“I think it’s a unique combination of the ability, the competitive spirit but also the selflessness of who he is and how he operates and how he goes about his business,” Macdonald mentioned. “It’s a rare combination — outside of whatever position you say — just in life. Just having the respect for the operation, the people, your teammates, the love that he has for the people around him no matter their situation, but also being just an absolutely high-level competitor when it’s coming down to it, and the ability. It’s just this triple-headed monster of just a really cool combination.”
Wearing a throwback Seahawks cap and a tan sweater vest over a white button-down shirt, Smith-Njigba mentioned getting the contract completed is “a little weight off my shoulders to go out there and let it fly.” He thanked his dad and mom for the way in which they raised him, recalling how his dad started throwing him footballs when he was 3 years previous.
“There’s not enough words to show my excitement and show my love for the city and this organization,” he mentioned, “but you’ll see it on Sundays.”
Smith-Njigba’s annual new-money common simply topped that of the Cincinnati Bengals‘ Ja’Marr Chase, who was beforehand the league’s highest-paid receiver at $40.25 million per yr. Asked about that distinction, Smith-Njigba known as it a blessing whereas saying there’s “always more work to be done” and “always another level to reach.”
After breaking out with 1,130 receiving yards in 2024, Smith-Njigba exploded for a league-high 1,793 in the course of the common season. That set a franchise record, as did his 119 receptions. Smith-Njigba additionally scored 10 touchdowns on his solution to being named AP Offensive Player of the Year and making his second consecutive Pro Bowl. He then added 199 yards and two scores over three playoff video games to assist Seattle win Super Bowl LX.
“The only thing better than one Super Bowl is two,” he mentioned. “So just working to get there and whatever my team needs from me, I’ll make sure I get it done.”
With his résumé, there wasn’t a lot query the Seahawks would make Smith-Njigba the league’s top-paid receiver. But it occurred earlier within the offseason than anticipated, given the workforce’s typical timeline for extensions, and with none of the general public drama that accompanied different megadeals in Seattle’s current previous.
Schneider credited Seahawks vice chairman of soccer administration Joey Laine, who handles the workforce’s contract negotiations.
“We’ve had a great relationship with Jax’s agent, Joel Segal, for a long, long time,” Schneider mentioned. “We were able to just keep things in-house, keep it respectful. When you’re on the higher end of these deals, I don’t want to say they’re easier, but everybody kind of recognizes Jax’s talent and his work ethic and, like I said, the person.”
In making the identical level, Macdonald pointed to all of the workforce workers who confirmed up Wednesday.
“One of the things that paints a great picture about what Jax means to us being a foundational piece of our football team and our organization is we’ve got a full house here,” Macdonald mentioned. “This is pretty awesome. You’ve got dang near the whole Seattle Seahawks organization sitting here supporting Jax on this day. Just want to emphasize how excited we are. He’s a foundational piece. He’s a cornerstone of our team. Just being able to see his growth over the two years that we’ve been here, the sky’s the limit. This is the beginning.”
With Smith-Njigba’s extension completed, the Seahawks are turning their consideration to a brand new deal for Pro Bowl cornerback Devon Witherspoon, their different star first-round decide from 2023. Team proprietor Jody Allen has instructed Schneider to take a business-as-usual strategy this offseason even with the workforce up on the market in accordance with the needs of her late brother, Paul Allen.
“She’s like, ‘Let’s go win another one. Let’s get after it,'” Schneider mentioned. “There’s another world out there that’s coming. We’re getting ready for it. But as of right now, we’re just keeping ripping like we always have.”
