Seattle won Super Bowl LX with a roster built out by homegrown talent and savvy signings, leaving the Seahawks with the in the league to go along with a Lombardi Trophy heading into the offseason.
As is often the case, though, the bill is set to come due -- and there's likely no larger pay day on the horizon for the team than Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
The recently named Offensive Player of the Year heads into Year 4 eligible for an extension for the first time in his career. Although he is plenty patient, he's also well aware he qualifies for top-of-the-line money.
"I'm really not too pressed right now to get it done," Smith-Njigba told . "I know my time is coming and when we get it done it's gonna be a great deal. And, you know, God's timing is perfect timing. So, whenever that may come, we'll be ready for it, and I think I believe I deserve to be the highest paid in my position. Just what I give to the game and the community, you know, I give it my all. I think that's worth a lot."
There's a few ways the Seahawks could play the JSN contract situation.
As a first-round pick from the 2023 draft, Smith-Njigba has a fifth-year option on his rookie contract. Seattle has to exercise the option, the same timeline for fellow '23 first-rounder Devon Witherspoon.
Given Smith-Njigba's immense talent and that his price tag will only continue to rise, it would be prudent to come to terms on a long-term agreement sooner rather than let his first contract play out.
The Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase set the current high-water mark for wide receivers with his extension last offseason. He currently makes an average of $40.3 million per year, well clear of the Vikings' Justin Jefferson, who is in second among wideouts at $35 million.
How they maneuver handing out new big-time deals in the coming years will partly determine their window as contenders, but the Seahawks are certainly in an excellent spot to keep their best, such as JSN and Witherspoon, on lucrative contracts.
On top of the aforementioned money to spend heading into the offseason, the Seahawks have onloaded lasting talent over the past few drafts, and they also found a steal under center with Sam Darnold. Of the 19 quarterbacks averaging over $30 million per year, he sits in 18th, with two years remaining on a deal that has an average annual value of $33.5 million.
Thus, the time would seem to be now to lock in Smith-Njigba, who had his best year teaming up with Darnold for 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns on 119 receptions.
Luckily for the Seahawks, their star wideout is saying all the right things. He stated the obvious that he deserves to be a top-paid player, but made no demands and included the caveat that, in his heart of hearts, he'd play football for any price.
"I would play this game for free," Smith-Njigba said. "I love this game so much, but you don't have to. I'm learning to be a good businessman, and we need that check at the end of the day."
