American Football
BREAKING
Smith-Njigba becomes NFL highest-paid WR with $168 million Seahawks deal
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Jaxon Smith-Njigba has agreed to a four-year, $168.6 million contract extension with the Seattle Seahawks, making him the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history.
The numbers behind Smith-Njigba's deal
The extension averages $42.15 million per year and includes over $120 million in guaranteed money, both figures setting new records at the position.
His annual earnings have surpassed those of Bengals' WR Ja'Marr Chase, whose $40.25 million per year previously led all players at the position.
The agreement ties Smith-Njigba to Seattle through the 2031 season, a total commitment of six years when combined with the remainder of his existing deal.
The contract was confirmed on Monday, just days after the Seahawks exercised the fifth-year option on Smith-Njigba's rookie deal.
A season for the ages by Smith-Njigba
Smith-Njigba arrives at this deal off the back of a season in which he was named the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year.
He led the NFL with 1,793 receiving yards, and added a further 199 and two touchdowns in helping Seattle claim Super Bowl LX.
As arguably the most important player of the Seahawks offense, the extension signals Seattle's commitment to building around him as their long-term number one receiver.
What Smith-Njigba's deal means for the WR market
The deal is the latest leap in an ever-rising wide receiver market and is expected to have immediate ripple effects across the league.
The Los Angeles Rams are among the teams likely to feel the impact most directly, with Puka Nacua heading into the final year of his contract in 2026 and now facing a significantly higher benchmark for any extension talks.
The Cowboys' George Pickens and Drake London of the Falcons may not command the same market value as Smith-Njigba or Nacua, but both stand to benefit from a receiver market that shows no sign of slowing down.
