The Seattle Seahawks have one of the best wide receivers in football in Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He was their first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and has already emerged as one of the best in the game at age 23.
Something interesting about Smith-Njigba is the amount he is earning to begin his NFL career. Every rookie contract is straightforward, depending on where you are selected in the draft. Smith-Njigba was the 20th overall pick, and that comes with a lucrative rookie contract.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba Rookie Contract
Smith-Njigba signed a four-year, $14,417,307 contract, along with a $7,485,316 signing bonus. Additionally, his average annual salary is not exceptionally high ($3,604,327), but he is eligible to receive a contract extension after this season.
Smith-Njigba has been a football star ever since his high school days. He was a four-star recruit out of Rockwell, Texas, who committed to Ohio State University. He was 91st on the ESPN top 300 and an immediate contributor to the Buckeyes.
He was even offered a plethora of NIL deals during his time in college, including those from Kane Footwear, Onyx Authenticated, and Express. According to SportsKeeda, Smith-Njigba earned around $453k during his time in college.
The 23-year-old has made a nice living for himself despite not receiving his second NFL contract. It will be interesting to see what his contract extension looks like and if the Seahawks are willing to give him one after this season.
What might Smith-Njigba’s Second Contract Look Like?
If you look across the NFL wide receiver landscape, there are a lot of high-paid players. According to Spotrac, the highest-paid WR in football is Ja’Marr Chase, who is making just over $40 million per season. Smith-Njigba is coming off a 100-reception season with 1,130 yards and six touchdowns. However, he likely will not receive top-three wide receiver money.
Smith-Njigba can make a good argument to be the fourth-highest-paid wide receiver in football ahead of D.K. Metcalf. Smith-Njigba is on pace for another 100+ catch, 1,000+ yard season, and that is something Metcalf has not achieved in a year.
You can bet Smith-Njigba’s agent will be looking for anything over $33 million per season. That would be a significant pay increase and reflect what the young wide receiver has meant to the Seahawks so far in his career.
The Seahawks would be wise to finalize this deal as soon as possible to avoid an increase in his cost. Wide receivers are one of the most vital pieces to a successful offense, and the Seahawks have a budding star in Smith-Njigba.
