Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba says he is not preoccupied with negotiations on a new contract, but made clear he believes his performance has earned him a place at the very top of the pay scale for his position.
Speaking as a newly crowned Super Bowl champion and the 2025 AP Offensive Player of the Year, Smith-Njigba indicated that any eventual extension with the Seahawks should reflect what he views as his standing among the league’s receivers. He said he believes he deserves to be the highest-paid wideout in the NFL when the time comes for a new deal, while reiterating that his primary focus remains on football rather than contract talks.
Smith-Njigba’s comments come after a season in which he emerged as one of the central figures in Seattle’s offense, helping the franchise capture a Super Bowl title. His breakout year culminated in the AP Offensive Player of the Year honor, an award that typically goes to one of the league’s most productive and impactful skill-position players. That recognition has naturally placed increased attention on his contractual future and where he might eventually slot among the sport’s top earners at wide receiver.
Even with that context, Smith-Njigba downplayed any notion that contract discussions are weighing on him during the offseason. He emphasized that he is comfortable allowing the process to unfold, expressing confidence that his body of work, including the 2025 campaign, speaks for itself. According to Smith-Njigba, his expectation of being compensated at the very top of the market is rooted in his belief that he has performed at an elite level and contributed significantly to the Seahawks’ recent success.
At the same time, he made clear that team goals remain a priority. Coming off a championship run, Smith-Njigba framed his contract future as important but secondary to building on what Seattle accomplished. He noted that he trusts the organization and is focused on preparing for the upcoming season, leaving the details of a potential extension to the appropriate time.
Smith-Njigba’s stance reflects a balance between personal ambition and team commitment. He openly acknowledges his desire to be recognized as the league’s highest-paid wide receiver, while maintaining that he is not letting that aspiration overshadow his preparation or his role in the Seahawks’ pursuit of sustained success. For now, his comments simply add an early layer of intrigue around what could eventually become one of the NFL’s most closely watched contract negotiations at the wide receiver position.
