An ESPN show was abruptly interrupted on Monday as news of a record-breaking $168.6 million NFL trade broke with the major development immediately grabbing attention
12:10 ET, 23 Mar 2026
Jaxon Smith-Njigba #11 of the Seattle Seahawks looks on during an NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers
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Jaxon Smith-Njigba has become the highest paid wide receiver in the NFL
ESPN's Get Up was halted during Monday morning's show as breaking NFL trade news worth $168.6 million took center stage.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba backed up his bold prediction, securing a record-setting four-year, $168.6 million extension with the Seattle Seahawks that includes $120 million guaranteed. His $42.15 million average annual salary now surpasses Ja'Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals, who earns $40.25 million per year on his four-year, $161 million deal.
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Smith-Njigba has reset the wide receiver market, earning more than double the salaries of the NFL’s top players at other skill positions. By comparison, Saquon Barkley leads running backs at $20.6 million annually, while George Kittle tops tight ends at $19.1 million, underscoring the growing financial gap between receivers and the rest of the league. Meanwhile, Tom Brady avoided answering a question on Maxx Crosby's failed trade.
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Analysts Dan Orlovsky and Jason McCourty reacted to the news live on air. Orlovsky said: "This guy's a great, great player. He's also a great human being, which I always believe matters.
"Just to put into context how great his season was. I believe he had 1792 yards receiving this year that led Seattle through the ball the least amount in the NFL.
“He was when it comes to as how many routes he actually ran. He was bottom five in the NFL, so he got little opportunity but massive production. He's a superstar."
McCourty added: "You talk about the type of person, the leader, the type of guy is in that locker room from a DB's perspective, matching up against Jaxon Smith-Njigba, he gives you hell all game, outside, inside his ability to get open at every level.
"Well deserved. Think about his year. Won the Super Bowl and now the highest paid receiver in NFL history, good for him."
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The Seahawks exercised Smith-Njigba’s fifth-year option last Friday following his standout 2025 campaign.
He earned NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors after setting franchise records with 119 receptions and 1,793 receiving yards, along with 10 touchdown catches.
Smith-Njigba carried that form into the postseason, recording 17 receptions for 199 yards and two touchdowns. He also contributed four catches for 27 yards in Seattle’s 29–13 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX.
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“I think I deserve to be the highest-paid at 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, lot more,” Smith-Njigba told WFAA-TV in February.
“I would play this game for free, I love this game so much, but you don’t have to.
“I’m learning to be a good businessman, and we need that check at the end of the day.”