Being a wide receiver at Ohio State has long been a route to NFL success. After a standout third season in the league, former Buckeye star Jaxon Smith-Njigba has solidly established himself among that group.
On Monday, Smith-Njigba was rewarded for his performances with a huge contract extension. According to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, Smith-Njigba and the Seattle Seahawks have agreed to a four-year, $168.6 million deal. The massive contract includes $120 million guaranteed, making the 24 year old the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history.
The $42.15 million average annual value significantly exceeds previous market benchmarks. However, given Smith-Njigba's dominant performance on the field, the large financial commitment is justified.
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Smith-Njigba's record-breaking payday follows a historic 2025 campaign in which he firmly established himself as the top pass-catcher in the NFL. During the regular season, he led the league with 1,793 receiving yards, along with 119 receptions and 10 touchdowns. Showing nearly unstoppable quickness, elite route-running and yards-after-the-catch ability, Smith-Njigba built a strong chemistry with quarterback Sam Darnold. His efforts earned him NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors and, most importantly, helped the Seahawks win Super Bowl LX.
The groundwork for this extension was laid just days earlier when the Seahawks officially exercised the fifth-year option on his rookie deal, signaling that a long-term contract was imminent.
Before his rapid ascent in the NFL, Smith-Njigba made a name for himself with the Scarlet and Gray. Coming to Ohio State as a highly regarded five-star prospect out of Rockwall, Texas, he cemented his legacy as one of the Buckeyes' greats, with most of his production coming during his sophomore year.
That sophomore season in 2021 remains the stuff of college football legend. Despite sharing the field with future NFL first-round picks Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, Smith-Njigba broke the Big Ten single-season receiving record with 1,606 yards on 95 catches. The highlight of his college career came during the 2022 Rose Bowl against Utah, where he delivered arguably the greatest single-game performance by a receiver in college football history. With Wilson and Olave opting out of the bowl game, Smith-Njigba exploded for 15 catches, 347 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Buckeyes to a dramatic 48-45 victory.
Though a nagging hamstring injury limited him to just three games during his junior season in 2022, his impressive talent was undeniable. The Seahawks chose him with the No. 20 overall pick in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, making him the first wide receiver selected that year.
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After a strong rookie season, Smith-Njigba made huge progress year after year, earning consecutive Pro Bowl selections and now a Super Bowl ring. The 24 year old has transitioned smoothly from a Buckeye star to the NFL's most dangerous offensive weapon. With his long-term future in Seattle now secure with a new contract, Smith-Njigba is set to lead the league for years to come.