Seattle Seahawks star Jaxon Smith-Njigba established himself as one of the NFL’s premier wide receivers this past season. Now he’s ready to get paid like one.
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Smith-Njigba is now eligible to negotiate a contract extension as he heads into the final year of his rookie deal. Getting an extension done with the reigning AP Offensive Player of the Year figures to be one of the biggest priorities for the Seahawks this offseason.
Seattle’s standout wide receiver recently addressed his contract situation, saying he isn’t too concerned with getting a new deal. However, when he does get that deal, he believes he should be the league’s highest-paid wideout.
“I’m really not too pressed right now to get it done,” Smith-Njigba said of a contract extension in a recent interview with WFAA in Dallas, near his hometown of Rockwell, Texas. “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 believe I deserve to be the highest paid in my position. Just what I give to the game and the 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.”
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Smith-Njigba led the league with 1,793 receiving yards and was fourth with 119 receptions (both franchise records) while hauling in 10 touchdowns in his third pro season. He added 17 catches for 199 yards and two TDs in three playoff games during the Seahawks’ run to their second Super Bowl title. He earned first-team All-Pro honors and his second Pro Bowl nod.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase is currently the league’s top-paid wide receiver making an average of $40.25 million on a four-year, $161 million deal signed in March 2025, according to Over The Cap. Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson ($35 million), Dallas’ Ceedee Lamb ($34 million), Pittsburgh’s DK Metcalf ($33 million) and the New York Jets’ Garrett Wilson ($32.5 million) make up the rest of the top five receivers in average annual contract value.
Smith-Njigba’s rookie deal has a base salary of $2.7 million next season, per Over The Cap.
The Seahawks have plenty of salary cap space to work with to get a deal with Smith-Njigba done this offseason. They have sixth-most in the league at roughly $61.9 million available, according Over The Cap.
However, if the Seahawks aren’t able to get a deal done with Smith-Njigba soon, they could exercise the fifth-year option on his rookie deal to keep him in Seattle through the 2027 season and buy more time to negotiate an extension. The team has until May 1 to pick up the option. Seattle exercised left tackle Charles Cross’ fifth-year option last offseason before signing him to a four-year, $104.4 million contract extension in January.
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