Jaxon Smith-Njigba would play for free, but wants to be highest-paid WR
Show him the money.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba isn't in a hurry to get paid, but the Seattle Seahawks star receiver is bound to cash in with a big contract when that time comes. He took home the award for NFL Offensive Player of the Year and also helped Seattle win its second Lombardi Trophy in franchise history after winning Super Bowl 60.
The receiver is officially eligible for an extension this offseason, but there is no timeline on when a deal will be done.
"I'm really not too pressed right now to get it done," Smith-Njigba said in an interview with WFAA on Feb. 20 in his hometown of Dallas. "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 in my position. Just what I give to the game and the community, I give it my all, and I think that's worth a lot more."
Smith-Njigba went on to talk about his love of the game, but the business side of things drives his desire to be the highest-paid.
"I would play this game for free," Smith-Njigba said. "I love this game so much. But you don't have to, and I'm learning to be a good businessman, and we need that check at the end of the day."
He is currently set to enter the final year of a four-year, $14.4 million rookie contract. The deal, just like every NFL rookie contract, was slotted. Smith-Njigba was drafted by the Seahawks with the 20th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Since his selection came in the first round, Seattle has the ability to pick up Smith-Njigba's fifth-year option, which would extend his stay in the Pacific Northwest for another year. The fifth-year-option window for the 2023 draft class opened Jan. 5, with the final deadline set for May 1.
That option would be worth about $24.4 million, per Spotrac.
Smith-Njigba recorded 119 catches, 10 touchdowns and led the league with 1,793 receiving yards, setting a franchise record. He was also named a first-team All-Pro and earned a Pro Bowl selection.
If the Seahawks' star wants to become the highest-paid receiver, he will have to surpass the number that Ja'Marr Chase received last offseason. The Cincinnati Bengals' receiver inked a four-year, $161 million deal on March 16, 2025 to become the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
With an average annual value (AAV) of $40.25 million, the mark is set for Smith-Njigba.
Time will tell if he beats it.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Seahawks Jaxon Smith-Njigba wants to be highest-paid WR with extension