When the Seattle Seahawks snagged Devon Witherspoon and Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, it was a move that echoed back to 2010-the last time they doubled up on first-round picks. Fast forward, and the Seahawks are reaping the rewards with two All-Pro talents, including the reigning Offensive Player of the Year.
As the Super Bowl champs gear up for another action-packed offseason, all eyes are on the contract negotiations for JSN and ‘Spoon. Both are entering the final stretches of their rookie contracts (unless the Seahawks decide to exercise their fifth-year options), and their performances suggest they’ll be looking for lucrative deals. In a recent chat with Dallas’ WFAA radio, JSN expressed his ambitions to become the NFL’s highest-paid receiver.
“I’m not in a rush to get it done,” Smith-Njigba shared. “I know my time will come, and when it does, it’ll be a great deal.
God’s timing is perfect, and I’m ready for it whenever it happens. I believe I deserve to be the highest paid in my position.
I give my all to the game and the community, and that’s worth a lot.”
Currently, Cincinnati Bengals star Ja’Marr Chase leads the pack with a salary just north of $40 million per year, setting a high bar for JSN to aim for.
While the financial specifics can be debated later, ESPN’s Brady Henderson adds an interesting piece to the puzzle: The Seahawks are planning to negotiate new deals for both Smith-Njigba and Pro Bowl cornerback Devon Witherspoon this offseason. Seattle has until May 1 to decide on their fifth-year options.
Historically, the Seahawks haven’t exercised fifth-year options under GM John Schneider. However, last offseason, Charles Cross broke that trend by securing a new contract before the season wrapped up. This might signal a shift in Seattle’s approach to handling contracts rather than an isolated case.
With a healthy salary cap, the Seahawks are in a good position. Drafting elite players comes with the territory of eventually paying them top dollar, and Seattle seems ready to meet that challenge head-on.