Jaxon Smith-Njigba Seattle Seahawks
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Jaxon Smith-Njigba #11 of the Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are officially Super Bowl champions after taking down Drake Maye and the New England Patriots in convincing fashion earlier this month at Levi’s Stadium in the Bay Area.
With the Seahawks reaching the top, the team’s goal moving forward will be to stay there, as they’ll have a target on their backs heading into the 2026 NFL season, making the offseason crucial, to say the least.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Wants to Be NFL’s Highest-Paid WR
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Seattle Seahawks
GettyJaxon Smith-Njigba #11 of the Seattle Seahawks
One of the main reasons the Seahawks had so much success during the 2025 NFL season was the emergence of wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba as a legitimate superstar and perhaps the best player at his position in the league.
After winning his first Super Bowl title and becoming a household name after an incredible 2025 campaign, Smith-Njigba thinks he deserves to be the highest-paid wideout in the NFL, as he told Jonah Javad of WFAA via Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team.
Ari Meirov
#Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba told @JonahJavad that he believes he should be the NFL’s highest-paid WR, which would mean topping $40.25M per year — the current record held by Ja’Marr Chase.
JSN is eligible for an extension this offseason.
(via @JonahJavad, @wfaa /IG)
“I’m not really too pressed right now to get it done,” Smith-Njigba said of a contract extension. “I know my time is coming, and when we get it done, it’s going to be a great deal. God’s timing is perfect timing. So whenever that may come, we’ll be ready for it.
“I think I deserve to be the highest paid in my position, and what I give to the game and my community. I give it my all, and I think that’s worth a lot more. I would play this game for free. I love this game so much, but you don’t have to, and I’m learning to be a good businessman and we need that check at the end of the day.”
After what Smith-Njigba showed on the football field during the 2025 campaign, he’s easily in the conversation for being the best wideout in the game.
The 24-year-old rising star finished with career-high totals across the board. He racked up a league-best 1,793 receiving yards to go along with 119 receptions and 10 touchdowns during the regular season and added 199 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the playoffs.
Cooper Kupp to Remain With Seahawks
Cooper Kupp Sam Darnold Seattle Seahawks
GettySam Darnold #14 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates with teammate Cooper Kupp #10 of the Seattle Seahawks
Along with potentially needing to address Smith-Njigba’s contract situation, veteran wide receiver Cooper Kupp will be back for another season, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
Kupp’s three-year, $45 million contract has a provision that made $9 million in 2026 salary fully-guaranteed as of Friday, February 13. By not releasing him before the money vested, it means the Seahawks will be keeping Kupp for at least another year.
Although Kupp isn’t the dominant player he once was with the Los Angeles Rams, the veteran wideout has done enough in Seattle to secure a roster spot for the 2026 campaign, with a chance to win what would be a third Super Bowl title for the future Hall of Famer.
Kupp caught 47 passes for 593 receiving yards and two touchdowns during the regular season and then made an impact during the NFL playoffs, catching 15 passes for 157 yards and a touchdown.