The Seattle Seahawks will enter the 2026 NFL season as reigning champions after defeating the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl last season.
Led by quarterback Sam Darnold and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the Seahawks ended up having a powerful offense throughout the year. Defensively, the team was able to finish sixth in the NFL in yards allowed per game.
Combining a dangerous offense and a stingy defense led to a championship.
Heading into the 2026 season, Smith-Njigba has become a household name. He has become one of the best wide receivers in the league.
With that being said, he has received a new update with an impressive ranking.
Seattle Seahawks Star Jaxon Smith-Njigba Lands Major Ranking
Bleacher Report has officially released its rankings for the top 1,000 players in the NFL. Smith-Njigba ended up landing high on the list.
Where exactly did he end up in the rankings? They believe that Smith-Njigba is the No. 17 player in the league.
“Jaxon Smith-Njigba has developed into one of the NFL’s premier wide receivers. He is an elite separator against one-on-one coverage. He was a driving force behind the Seattle Seahawks’ Super Bowl run. He is an advanced and nuanced route-runner with great body control, spatial awareness, tempo, and route IQ,” they wrote.
“Opposing defenses broke the huddle knowing his alignment at all times. JSN is not viewed as an elite speed threat, but he is a deceptive athlete, winning the vertical plane more than expected. His hands are among the most reliable in the league, making contested catches with high confidence. Last season, JSN recorded 119 receptions for 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns, firmly placing him among the NFL’s elite wide receivers.”
Looking Back at Smith-Njigba’s Career So Far
Originally drafted by the Seahawks with the No. 20 overall pick in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Smith-Njigba has shown notable improvement each and every year.
As a rookie back in 2023, he caught 63 passes for 628 yards and four touchdowns in 17 games. He backed that up with 100 catches for 1,130 yards and six touchdowns in 17 games during the 2024 season.
Last year Smith-Njigba took his game to new heights. He once again played in all 17 regular season games, racking up 119 receptions for 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns.
That kind of improvement is an impressive trajectory. He has earned the respect that is being given to him this offseason.
It will be interesting to see what the 2026 season has in store for the Seattle star. Could he show even more improvement and produce even bigger numbers? Only time will tell, but Bleacher Report believes he is one of the best players in the entire NFL.
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