During his final season at Ohio State, Smith-Njigba played only three games due to a nagging hamstring injury. This raised concerns that his draft stock might fall in 2023, but the Seahawks ultimately selected him with the 20th overall pick and Mike Macdonald now knows there’s no ceiling for the WR.

Upon his arrival, the Seahawks knew they needed to address JSN’s health. Recently, the team’s Director of Equipment, Erik Kennedy, revealed that a foot scan and a change in cleat size helped the wide receiver leave his hamstring issues behind.

“You’re always trying to find little edges that can help players,” Kennedy said on The John Schneider Show. “Let’s just say Jaxon Smith-Njigba, you were talking him about in college, he was wearing a size 12, had hamstring issues and things like that. Gets here, he’s a 10 1/2. . . . It’s helped him, right? He hasn’t missed time and done things like that. That helps build the trust for us with the players.”

The Seahawks are prioritizing player health

The Seahawks didn’t just fix Smith-Njigba’s issues; they’ve applied this philosophy to the entire roster. The secret? Custom-made gear for every player, and it has worked pretty well so far.

Kennedy added that JSN’s foot scan—which revealed he was wearing a size 12 when he actually needed a 10.5—prompted the organization to re-evaluate everyone. Following these checkups, the team shifted to custom helmets, cleats, and shoulder pads to minimize injury risks.

“What we get into is the helmet, to protect the players, everything should be custom, right?” Kennedy said. “We’ve gotten to the point we believe everything’s custom, and John and those guys and the ownership and everybody’s afforded us the opportunity to go out and chase and do those things where wearing the top helmets, wearing custom shoulder pads that are scanned to the body, scanning the feet, like getting to the point where you’re basically scanning everything to fit the person, and then having the crew to be able to do it. There’s five of us full-time guys that do it.”

A solid ownership leads to success

The Seahawks are proof that an organization that takes care of its players is rewarded with success. Three years after JSN’s arrival and the implementation of custom-made gear, a Super Bowl title returned to Seattle with their Super Bowl LX victory.

While the club is now for sale, the current ownership has set a perfect blueprint for success for the next owners. Fans hope the new leadership continues these innovative practices to build a dynasty in the near future.

“My guess is the [NFL] won’t want to take that risk,” Hunt stated, via ESPN’s Nate Taylor. “I don’t think that’s on the table anymore. I think from a league standpoint, there would be some concern whether [Patrick Mahomes] would be ready to go.”

Mahomes is coming off surgery for a torn ACL and LCL suffered late in the 2025 NFL season. Despite encouraging signs—such as Mahomes posting a video of himself throwing a football on social media—Andy Reid and the Chiefs still can’t provide an exact timeline for his return.

As long as that uncertainty remains, the NFL may not commit to scheduling the Chiefs’ game at the Seahawks as the opener for the 2026 campaign. The safer approach would be to wait for clarity on Mahomes’ status and schedule Kansas City’s visit to the Emerald City for later in the year.

Chiefs resort to Brady example

Back in 2009, a returning-from-injury Tom Brady and the New England Patriots opened the season at home on Monday Night Football. That would be an ideal scenario for the Chiefs in 2026, as every extra day is crucial to getting Mahomes back healthy and on time so he doesn’t miss any games.

While Hunt and the Chiefs haven’t submitted any formal request to the league, they know history may be on their side if they choose to make their case. “It’s not a request we’ve made. It sounds like a good idea [for the NFL], although it’s only one [more] day,” Hunt said.

When does the NFL announce its schedule?

The NFL usually reveals its schedule for the upcoming season in mid-May, and that isn’t expected to change in 2026. Thus, there is still time for the league to consider every key detail and come up with the best possible schedule to keep every team satisfied. Having a Mahomes-less Kansas City Chiefs team open the season in Seattle may be less than ideal, but the league has several other issues to address, and it may end up being the best they can do.

In the City of Fountains, though, Hunt and company are quite confident they won’t book hotel rooms in the state of Washington to start the season. They believe the NFL knows better than to risk opening the season with the defending Super Bowl champions led by backup quarterback Justin Fields on a Wednesday night. Anything can happen, though, so Hunt and the Chiefs must stay alert for any outcome when the official schedule is announced.

“One of the great things that paints a great picture about what Jax means to us being a foundational piece of our football team and our organization is we’ve got a full house here,” the head coach said, via the team’s website.

“Just being able to see his growth over the two years that we’ve been here. I mean, the sky’s the limit. This is the beginning. This is another iteration of our football team, and Jax is obviously going to be a huge part of it.”

JSN sets sights on second Super Bowl title

Jaxon Smith-Njigba is determined to keep the momentum rolling with the Seattle Seahawks, with one clear goal in mind: capturing another title. In fact, he admitted the only thing better than winning a Super Bowl is doing it twice.

Improving on those numbers won’t be an easy task, but the motivation that comes with becoming the highest-paid wide receiver in league history could give him an extra edge. In 2025, he posted 119 receptions for 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns.

New ground weapon for Macdonald?

Following Kenneth Walker III’s departure to the Kansas City Chiefs, Mike Macdonald’s team has been left somewhat depleted in the ground game. It’s worth noting the running back was named Super Bowl LV MVP.

For that reason, the Seahawks have set their sights on Najee Harris, though they’re not alone in the race. The Raiders have also entered the conversation for the former Chargers and Steelers running back, setting up a battle for his services ahead of the upcoming season.

This offseason, the Seahawks decided not to offer Walker III a new contract, prompting him to sign a three-year, $43 million deal with the Kansas City Chiefs and join Patrick Mahomes’ offense.

Zach Charbonnet now appears as the RB1 in the depth chart. Nevertheless, it seems like the Seahawks want to add more depth, with Najee Harris visiting the team on Wednesday.

Najee Harris may have a larger role in Seattle than in Las Vegas

Najee Harris entered the NFL as the 24th overall pick in 2021. He had an immediate impact with the Pittsburgh Steelers, securing over 1,000 rushing yards in each of his first four seasons.

Following his time in Pittsburgh, Harris signed a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Chargers for the 2025 season. Unfortunately, his campaign was cut short in Week 3 by a torn Achilles. Now a free agent, his best opportunity to return to a high-volume role may be with the Seahawks.

Seattle features a solid offensive line that helped Walker III thrive in 2025. If Harris joins the Seahawks, he would likely lead a committee alongside Zach Charbonnet (who is recovering from a February ACL surgery).

In contrast, joining the Raiders, who Harris will visit next week, would likely see him in a clear “wingman” role behind 2025 first-round standout Ashton Jeanty, who led the league in broken tackles as a rookie.

“The only thing better than one Super Bowl is two,” the wide receiver revealed to the press. It won’t be an easy task, as they now have a target on their backs, and the other 31 teams will be looking to take that privileged spot away.

In recent days, Smith-Njigba became the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history. Starting in Week 1, he’ll have to justify the immense trust his franchise placed in him with this new contract on the field.

A dream 2025 for Smith-Njigba

Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s 2025 breakout campaign was nothing short of legendary, as he spearheaded the Seahawks‘ offense with a record-breaking performance. The star wideout led the NFL with a staggering 1,793 receiving yards and set franchise highs with 119 receptions and 10 touchdowns, earning him the league’s Offensive Player of the Year honors.

His impact reached its peak during Super Bowl LX, where his elite route running and gravity on the field dismantled the New England Patriots’ secondary. By drawing constant double-teams, JSN opened up the field for his teammates and came up clutch with several third-down conversions, ultimately proving to be the catalyst in Seattle’s decisive 29–13 victory to secure the Lombardi Trophy.

New offensive teammate in Seattle?

Looking ahead to next season’s roster, the Seattle Seahawks want to keep the bar high. Bringing in veteran leadership is seen as essential.

According to insider Ian Rapoport on X, the player who recently met with the franchise was none other than Najee Harris. The former Steelers star could land with Mike Macdonald’s team, though he’s also scheduled to interview with the Las Vegas Raiders.

The wide receiver market has been completely reset. Jaxon Smith-Njigba signed a four-year, $168.6 million extension with the Seahawks, and the pressure is now on the Rams to respond.

According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, the Rams intend to address Puka Nacua’s extension this summer. However, Smith-Njigba’s massive deal has officially set the floor for Nacua’s next contract.

Puka Nacua vs. Jaxon Smith-Njigba by the numbers

Following an outstanding season that ended in a Super Bowl victory, the Seahawks knew they had to secure JSN with a long-term deal. This move directly impacts the Rams, as Puka Nacua has produced elite numbers remarkably similar to the Seattle star.

Both Nacua and Smith-Njigba have been in the league for three seasons. Statistically, the Rams’ playmaker actually leads in several categories, recording more receptions (313 vs. 282), more receiving yards (4,191 vs. 3,551), and more touchdowns (21 vs. 20).

The primary difference between the two lies in their recent accolades. While both are two-time Pro Bowlers and one-time All-Pros, Smith-Njigba has the edge with a Super Bowl ring and the 2025 Offensive Player of the Year award—honors Nacua has yet to secure.

Will Puka Nacua’s deal surpass Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s?

With the bar now set at $42.15 million per year by Smith-Njigba, fans are debating Nacua’s true market value. Does his superior statistical output earn him more than JSN?

According to projections from Spotrac, Nacua is expected to sign a deal worth approximately $38.7 million per year. If he signs at that price point, he would become the third highest-paid wide receiver in the league, trailing only JSN and Ja’Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals.

According to Field Yates of ESPN, the Seattle Seahawks matched the Jaguars‘ offer sheet for restricted free agent Jake Bobo. Tom Pelissero of NFL Media also reported the terms of the contract. Bobo’s new deal is worth $5.5 million for two years, with $4.5 million guaranteed.

Bobo has been used in a very low profile by the Seahawks. Actually, when the Jaguars sent their offer sheet and the Seahawks made Jaxon Smith-Njigba the highest-paid WR of all time, it wasn’t clear if Bobo was on the team’s plans.

Jake Bobo has plenty of upside

Bobo has a great frame standing at 6’4″ and 207 lbs, so the wideout is a huge target and especially strong in the red zone. He is a great blocker, which is an underrated feature for a receiver, yet one that is deeply appreciated.

He also has quite an underrating good route-running. Add that to a cheap price tag, and the potential to become a more prominent player on the roster, and then Bobo is looking at a possible breakout year.

Is Jake Bobo the WR2 of Seattle?

It’s clear that the Seahawks have their WR depth chart really sorted out. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the undoubted WR1 of the team. However, Bobo is not exactly the WR2, that’s Cooper Kupp. Also, Rashid Shaheed is still there. However, Kupp is ageing and Shaheed is a deep threat, maybe Bobo gets more targets in 2026.

Smith-Njigba will now earn $42.15M per year (over $120 million guaranteed), followed by Chase at $40.25M. The list continues with Justin Jefferson at $35M, CeeDee Lamb at $34M, DK Metcalf at $33M, and Garrett Wilson at $32.5M.

The current Super Bowl–winning team has locked in one of its top stars for several more years, committing $168.6 million. There’s no doubt that chasing a second consecutive ring has become the main goal in Seattle.

Smith-Njigba’s numbers from last season

Jaxon Smith-Njigba put together a truly historic performance during the 2025 season, establishing himself as one of the premier targets in the league. He hauled in an impressive 119 receptions for a total of 1,793 yards, maintaining a strong average of 15.1 yards per catch.

Furthermore, his ability to find the end zone was on full display as he recorded 10 touchdowns throughout the campaign. Additionally, he was one of the key pillars alongside Kenneth Walker III in Super Bowl LX, where they defeated the New England Patriots.

Seahawks’ WR Room

With Jaxson Smith-Njigba confirmed to stay in Seattle, it looks like Sam Darnold will once again have an intriguing receiving corps for the upcoming season. Here are the players who make it up:

• Jaxson-Smith Njigba
• Cooper Kupp
• Rashid Shaheed
• Jake Bobo
• Tory Horton
• Ricky White III
• Tyrone Broden
• Cody White
• Montorie Foster Jr.

The impact of this move on the NFL

The staggering figures being discussed in the league today could set a precedent. The deal between Jaxson Smith-Njigba and the Seattle Seahawks opens the door for other players to pursue the same—or even higher—numbers.

According to Adam Schefter via X, another major NFC West team could be in the headlines soon. Puka Nacua is entering the final year of his deal in 2026, and the Los Angeles Rams will likely move quickly to secure an extension with the WR.

The move acts as a high-value, guaranteed cap hit for the 2027 season. Hence, it doesn’t affect the Seahawks’ salary cap for this year. Instead, the hit is in 2027, but it could end up being a bargain based on the market growth.

This move is a necessary step but it’s also a first step to a bigger deal. The team and Smith-Njigba are likely to now negotiate a long-term extension in 2026. If the extension is signed quickly, then it might trump the option and the salary cap implications would change.

Smith-Njigba established into the elite last season

The 2025 season was a dream scenario for JSN. He won the Super Bowl, and also ranked among NFL leaders in receiving yards, separation, and deep passing production. His 1,793 yards in 119 receptions made him unstoppable, and now he holds franchise records in both categories.

Smith-Njigba was the Offensive Player of the Year as well as first team All Pro. He exploded into one of the most unguardable receivers in the NFL. JSN also led the NFL in receptions of 20+ yards (27) and 40+ yards (8).

Seattle exercised the fifth-year option of Witherspoon too

The Seahawks also exercised the fifth-year option on cornerback Devon Witherspoon. This will guarantee approximately $21.16 million for Witherspoon in the 2027 season. He is a key defender for Seattle.

Witherspoon is a three-time Pro Bowler and was the fifth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. It’s safe to say that he has lived up to his draft position, and Seattle knows it. Hence, a new deal could also be brewing.

Jake Bobo is a restricted free agent, which means that the Seahawks have the opportunity to match the Jaguars offer (unknown at the moment) to keep him on the roster. They have five days to match it.

If Seattle decides to match it, it’s the same terms that the Jaguars offer. Bobo is a very good receiver, though it has been underutilized by the Seahawks so far in his career. Still, he is a very talented receiver that could thrive with Trevor Lawrence as quarterback.

Bobo came from nothing

Bobo was an undrafted free agent out of UCLA in 2023 and stands at 6-foot-4 and weighs 207 pounds. He is also a big-time blocker on offense. Bobo is great in the red zone, and that’s why the Jaguars are looking into him.

Bobo has played 45 games, catching 34 passes for 323 yards and three touchdowns. He has quite a high potential, and Jacksonville might want to exploit those talents. Now it’s time to see if the Seahawks will allow him to leave.

The Jaguars have moved a lot of names

The Jaguars signed running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. but saw how Travis Etienne left the team. The tight ends also moved as Quintin Morris and Johnny Mundt also left the roster. However, the wide receiving corp is very good. They have Parker Washington, Jakobi Meyers, Brian Thomas Jr., and Travis Hunter.

Speaking about the team’s running back situation after Kenneth Walker III left for the Chiefs, Schneider pretty much said running backs are expendable. “That’s a position that you can find guys,” he said to Seattle Sports.

Pretty much, he said that Walker leaving is not as big of a deal. This is the Super Bowl MVP he’s talking about, so it’s a big statement. This is even more drastic given that the Seahawks don’t have exactly a top replacement on the roster.

Charbonnet might not be ready to start the season

Charbonnet was part of the Seahawks’ committee until he blew his ACL. That allowed Kenneth Walker to blossom and get his Chiefs contract. However, Charbonnet might not recover for Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season. Schneider also trusts an internal solution might be found for Walker.

The Seahawks did bring former Packer, Emmanuel Wilson, to the roster. Having said that, Wilson was a backup in Green Bay. Per Schneider, “we’re really excited about Emmanuel Wilson.” They also have Cam Akers on the roster. None of them are on Walker’s level.

The Seahawks running game is on alert watch

Schneider might not feel like it, but the Seahawks offense might resent Walker leaving. In fact, the whole offense might be suffering big time. Offensive coordinator Kubiak is gone. Your best running back is gone. The team hasn’t done much to spend on first-tier talent. The offense might regress heavily.