Seahawks Star Jaxon Smith-Njigba: 'I Deserve to be Highest-Paid Wide Receiver'

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba just led the NFL in receiving yards, and now he wants to be paid like that.

"I’m really not too pressed right now to get it done. I know my time is coming and when we get it done, it’s going to be a great deal. God’s timing is perfect timing, so whenever that may come, we’ll be ready for it. I believe 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," Smith-Njigba, who's now extension-eligible, said when asked about potentially signing a contract extension with the Seahawks in an interview with WFAA.

"And I think that’s worth a lot, lot more. 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."

Last season, Smith-Njigba totaled 119 receptions for an NFL-high 1,793 yards (15.1 yards per reception) and 10 touchdowns, helping him win the 2025 Offensive Player of the Year Award. Meanwhile, he racked up 100-plus receiving yards in nine regular-season games and 10 games altogether (regular season plus postseason).

Across Seattle's three postseason games, Smith-Njigba totaled 17 receptions for 199 yards — 153 of those yards coming against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game — and two touchdowns en route to the Seahawks beating the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX.

In 2024, Smith-Njigba reeled in 100 receptions for 1,130 yards and six touchdowns, with him earning Pro Bowl nods in each of the last two seasons (2024-25). Seattle selected Smith-Njigba with the No. 20 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Ohio State, with whom he led the Big Ten in receptions (95) and receiving yards (1,606)