Jaxon Smith-Njigba's season was nothing short of spectacular. As the top receiver in the league, he rightfully snagged the Offensive Player of the Year award.
His performance was historic, finishing with the eighth-most receiving yards in a single season in NFL history and shattering the Seattle Seahawks’ franchise record well before the season's end. Seahawks fans have every reason to celebrate him.
Now, let's talk contracts. Smith-Njigba has a strong case for a top-tier receiver contract.
While some fans worry about the risks of investing heavily in one player, it's crucial to separate those concerns. Paying big bucks to JSN doesn't mean the team can't win; it just means they need to be strategic.
Letting go of a talent like him doesn't make the team better now, nor is he easily replaceable.
Smith-Njigba himself isn't too focused on an immediate extension but is confident he'll get what he deserves. “I believe I deserve to be the highest paid at my position,” he told WFAA.
“I would play this game for free, 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.”
And he's right. Expecting him to take less for the team's sake is a tough ask.
Imagine cutting your paycheck in half for a coworker. In a multi-billion dollar industry, securing generational wealth is a smart move.
The real question is whether paying a receiver like JSN affects a team's Super Bowl chances. Historically, paying top dollar for a receiver hasn’t always correlated with winning it all.
A.J. Brown with the Eagles is a rare exception.
But consider this:
- Super Bowl winners are often dominated by a few teams, especially in the AFC. Teams with expensive receivers may not reach the Super Bowl, but neither do many teams without them, thanks to the likes of Tom Brady or Patrick Mahomes.
- JSN's talent isn’t easily replaced.
The Seahawks spent over a decade trying to close the talent gap with teams like the Rams and 49ers. Trading away a player of his caliber doesn't help bridge that gap.
- The Seahawks are in a Super Bowl window, and those opportunities are rare. Every general manager's goal is to keep that window open as long as possible, and JSN is a key part of that strategy.
Seattle's offseason will be crucial as they navigate these decisions, but one thing's for sure: Jaxon Smith-Njigba has proven he's worth the investment.