Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the Seattle Seahawks’ promising wide receiver, is making waves in the NFL with an impressive performance that has solidified his status as one of the league’s top talents. Selected as the 20th draft pick in 2023, Smith-Njigba’s rookie season showcased his potential, culminating in 628 receiving yards and four touchdowns. His recent games, including a particularly dominant performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars, have only heated up the debate on whether he is truly elite.
In a crucial game on Sunday at EverBank Stadium, Smith-Njigba caught eight passes for 162 yards and scored another touchdown, contributing significantly to the Seahawks’ 20-12 victory over the Jaguars. His ability to make explosive plays was evident when he recorded a 61-yard touchdown on a post route during the second quarter. Even more than speed, this touchdown illustrated his amazing instinct. Even with no elite speed, his games against Indiana and Colorado showed that he can push defenses downfield.
Smith-Njigba’s most recent performance has removed all doubt that he should be in consideration to be one of the very best receivers around. It was his third touchdown of the season. That was his league-high sixth catch on passes thrown 30-plus yards past the line of scrimmage, proving he’s an electric deep-threat anchor.
The young receiver’s progression from promising rookie to prolific playmaker shows up in his performance numbers. During that second year, he made his mark, racking up an impressive 1,130 receiving yards, good for 10th among all NFL wide receivers. Smith-Njigba has been over 100 yards in three straight weeks. Most notably, he won the Seahawks matchup vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers with an essential 43-yard catch in the final moments of the game that clinched the win.
His knack for the clutch play and the show-time making plays have earned him endless amounts of praise from teammates and opponents as well. Seattle safety Coby Bryant on Smith-Njigba’s reliability and footwork, Smith-Njigba is “always quick” to get open.
“He does it every week. He doesn’t say too much. He goes out, [he’s] consistent in who he is. He’s definitely the best, in my opinion.”
This is a sentiment that’s been echoed league-wide by other factors as well. Cooper Kupp noted that Smith-Njigba’s achievements in the face of defensive schemes aimed at curtailing his impact speak volumes about his talent.
“To consistently win over and over again when a defense is planning on trying to take him out of a game, it speaks volumes,” Kupp stated. “It just shows the ability in the route running and being able to understand the offense well enough to be able to move around and be in different spots. He’s doing a really good job. He’s a really good football player.”
Smith-Njigba’s impressive numbers further illuminate just how quickly he’s establishing himself as one of the most dangerous wideouts in the NFL. With 42 catches this season, he’s currently tied for fourth most with Bengals star receiver Ja’Marr Chase. He followed that up with a huge 132 yards performance in Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His steady stewardship has been pivotal in maintaining Seattle’s tech edge.
Each week, Smith-Njigba is continuing to sharpen his craft and get more accustomed to the NFL’s rugged landscape. He maintains an unrelenting commitment to producing high-quality work and getting things done for his staff. His ability to create separation and execute plays at all levels of the field positions him as a vital asset for the Seahawks as they navigate their season.
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