Inside the NFL's Best WR: Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Inside the NFL's Best WR: Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Lumen Field (Seattle) — Following the Seattle Seahawks' 20-3 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, linebacker Tyrice Knight expressed his surprise at the Chiefs' decision to have rookie cornerback Mansoor Delane cover Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who is currently recognized as the best receiver in the league, without assistance. Knight noted, "They must not have been watching film. I don’t know why they left that cornerback out there like that. Maybe they had confidence in him, I don’t know. But you can’t do that with the best receiver in the league. You’ve got to give that guy some help."

The game showcased significant offensive tactics as Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo opted to blitz Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold 23.3% of the time. This strategy did not pay off, as Darnold completed all seven attempts for 81 yards and a touchdown against the blitz, according to Next Gen Stats. Smith-Njigba concluded the night with nine receptions for 150 yards on 12 targets. He excelled against cornerbacks L’Jarius Sneed and Delane, catching five of six targets for 85 yards and a touchdown in man coverage. As Kenneth Walker III sought to enhance his Offensive Player of the Year candidacy against his former team, Smith-Njigba instead demonstrated why he is regarded as the premier skill-position player in football, affirming the Seahawks' choice to part ways with Walker.

"You can try your best, but JSN is going to get his," remarked Seahawks tight end AJ Barner. "It was a great performance by him. Jaxon is going to get open. Sam’s going to find him. He’s just incredible. Every week he’s so consistent. It’s what we expect from Jax."

In discussing Smith-Njigba, Barner highlighted his teammate’s work ethic and mindset, stating, "He’s such a talented kid, but it’s his mindset, too. It’s never too big of a spotlight for him. He had 150 yards tonight, but when he shows up tomorrow, whether it’s 150 yards or 50 yards, he’s going to be the same guy. He’s going to come in and work. And he’s going to put the team before himself as well."

Smith-Njigba, the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, continues to lead the league with 58 receptions, 867 receiving yards, and 8 receiving touchdowns this season. Historical performance indicates that if he maintains these stats, he would become only the fourth receiver since 2000 to earn the receiving triple crown. His teammate Cooper Kupp, a triple crown winner in 2021 with the Los Angeles Rams, understands the challenges Smith-Njigba faces. "People are going to try and take him away, but he has the ability to stay engaged one play after the next," Kupp stated. "But he’s done an unbelievable job of that and making the plays when the ball comes his way."

This season, Smith-Njigba is also on track to become the first receiver to achieve 2,000 receiving yards. He became the fourth player in NFL history to record over 100 receiving yards in six of his team’s first seven games. Depending on participation in upcoming matches, it is anticipated that Smith-Njigba may continue to perform at a high level, accounting for 36% of Seattle’s offense.

In parallel developments, the Seahawks made a trade ahead of the NFL trade deadline on Nov. 10 to acquire Pro Bowl offensive guard Quenton Nelson from the Indianapolis Colts, addressing their offensive line needs. This transaction marks general manager John Schneider's fourth consecutive year making a significant trade at the deadline. The addition of Nelson, an eight-time Pro Bowler, comes amidst an escalating arms race in the NFC West, as teams like the 49ers and Rams also bolster their rosters before the deadline.