The NFC receiver hierarchy has a new name near the top, and the Seattle Seahawks are no longer a surprise.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba wrapped a 2025 season that settled the debate about whether he was a star or just a volume accumulator after leading the league with 1,793 receiving yards on 119 receptions with 10 touchdowns, averaging a career-high 15.1 yards per catch.
He achieved this as the clear number-one target for the Seahawks, despite playing in a run-heavy offense. His performance helped Seattle win the Super Bowl and earned him first-team All-Pro honors alongside the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award.
Feb 11, 2026; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) reacts during the Super Bowl LX parade. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images
On March 23, Seattle signed Smith-Njigba to a four-year, $168.6 million contract extension. At $42.15 million per year, the deal broke Ja’Marr Chase’s record to make him the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history at the time of signing.
With this emergence, Seattle now has a receiver performing at the same level as the Dallas Cowboys’ elite duo of CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens.
What Makes Seahawks JSN Different from CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens
ESPN’s Ben Solak noted that JSN’s 2025 season was an “unassailable trend” rather than a temporary spike. Smith-Njigba averaged 3.85 yards per route run, the second-highest mark in the NFL over the last ten years, behind only Tyreek Hill’s 2023 season.
Additionally, Smith-Njigba accounted for 44.1% of Seattle’s total receiving yards. This level of offensive concentration was last seen with Brandon Marshall in 2012.
During the playoffs, Tom Brady explained on the Fox broadcast that Smith-Njigba’s success comes down to technique. Specifically, he referred to his shoulder plane, saying, “A lot of receivers, when they run if they’re speeding up or stopping, their shoulder plane will rise or fall. He maintains the same shoulder plane when he runs his route.”
“A lot of receivers, when they run if they’re speeding up or stopping, their shoulder plane will rise or fall. He maintains the same shoulder plane when he runs his route.”
🧠 @TomBrady breaks down what makes @jaxon_smith1‘s skillset so special. pic.twitter.com/vfJe7KgSS2
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) January 26, 2026
Smith-Njigba proved to be a versatile threat in 2025, recording at least 225 yards on four separate route concepts: go routes, posts, outs, and slants. This variety forces defenses to make difficult choices as he cannot be covered in man-to-man without elite cornerbacks, and using safety help to bracket him leaves other areas exposed.
The 24-year-old is under contract through 2031. His production places him at the top of the NFC alongside Lamb and Pickens, presenting a direct challenge to any team, especially the Dallas Cowboys’ passing defense that finished the season in the bottom third of the league.
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