Jaxon Smith-Njigba Is Forcing the NFL to Take Notice - And He Might Just Win Offensive Player of the Year
Jaxon Smith-Njigba isn’t just breaking out - he’s blowing the doors off. In just his third NFL season, the Seahawks wide receiver has emerged as one of the league’s most dominant offensive weapons.
The numbers speak for themselves: 1,637 receiving yards, 10 touchdowns, and 104 catches. And he’s doing it in an offense that doesn’t even lean heavily on the pass.
Let’s put that into perspective. Seattle throws the ball just 51% of the time - that's the third-lowest rate in the league.
Despite that, Smith-Njigba leads the NFL in receiving yards. That’s not just production; that’s efficiency, reliability, and elite playmaking all rolled into one.
He’s not just getting open - he’s carrying the Seahawks’ passing game on his back.
According to a recent poll of NFL executives and general managers conducted by Tom Pelissero, Smith-Njigba is the frontrunner for Offensive Player of the Year. He received 15 votes, edging out other top-tier offensive talents thanks to both his raw numbers and his overall impact on the Seahawks’ offense.
And impact is the key word here. Smith-Njigba is responsible for a staggering 44% of Seattle’s receiving yards this season.
That’s not just high - it’s historic. You have to go all the way back to Brandon Marshall’s 2012 season with the Bears to find a receiver who accounted for a larger share of his team’s passing production.
That kind of workload is rare in today’s NFL, where most offenses spread the ball around.
At just 23 years old, Smith-Njigba is already playing like a seasoned veteran. This is his second consecutive season with over 100 receptions, and he’s doing it while often facing the opponent’s top cornerback, with little help in terms of secondary receiving threats. Defenses know the ball is coming his way - and they still can’t stop it.
Yes, Puka Nacua is having a phenomenal year as well, and his numbers are right there with JSN’s. But what separates Smith-Njigba is how essential he is to his team’s offensive identity.
He’s not just a cog in the machine - he is the machine. Without him, Seattle’s offense doesn’t function the same way.
He’s the safety valve, the deep threat, the chain mover, and the red-zone go-to all in one.
Smith-Njigba’s rise is a testament to his route-running precision, his hands, and his ability to create separation in tight windows. He’s not the flashiest name in the league - yet - but he’s playing like one of the NFL’s elite. And if he keeps this up, that Offensive Player of the Year trophy might just be headed to Seattle.
This isn't just a breakout year. This is JSN announcing his arrival as one of the league’s premier wide receivers - and he's only just getting started.