Jaxon Smith-Njigba knows how lethal the Seahawks' offense can be: 'gonna light it up'
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is more than ready to join DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.
Newly minted rookie wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba already knows just how good the Seattle Seahawks offense can be in 2023.
When speaking on a KJR-FM radio show (h/t The Athletic's Michael-Shawn Dugar), the first-round pick explained that the Seahawks are going to "light it up for sure" because he is now added into the mix next to DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.
The Seahawks drafted Smith-Njigba with the No. 20 overall pick. For long stretches, Seattle lacked a truly dynamic third receiver. And most of the time, it was bargain bin players filling that slot role within the Seahawks' offense. Smith-Njigba wasn't just drafted to be another receiver. Seattle feels like he can be a difference-maker.
“It was an easy decision just because he’s plug-and-play,” Schneider said on Seattle Sports radio after the draft. “With our situation, it totally made sense.”
In that No. 3 role, Smith-Njigba is sure to hit the ground running in Seattle. While he was at Ohio State, he played 89 percent of his snaps in 2021 in the slot.
What makes Smith-Njigba an unusually enticing offensive weapon is his route running and savvy getting-open ability.
A hamstring injury limited Smith-Njigba to just three games at Ohio State in the 2022 season. There's no concern that the hamstring issue is here to stay. He ran a 4.48 in the 40-yard dash at Ohio State's pro day in March.
When looking at the Seahawks on paper, they are set to be a potential Super Bowl contender. If the team gets another great season out of quarterback Geno Smith and they solidify the run defense, the sky is only the start — not the limit.
Already, the NFC rival San Francisco 49ers' general manager John Lynch explained that of all the teams in the conference, he is most impressed with the moves the Seahawks have made. He is full-on expecting them to make a leap this season.
And given the lack of overall depth in the NFC, the Seahawks are trending in the right direction.
