Rookie wide receivers are a difficult lot to predict in the NFL, but teams at times strike immediate gold with a position that generally needs time to develop.
Such was the case in Seattle, where Ohio State product Jaxon Smith-Njigba made a striking impression as he learned the ins and outs of playing on the professional level.
Despite the sometimes erratic play expected of a rookie, he showed flashes of brilliance and the ability to step up in big situations.
This was enough to tell the new head coach, Mike Macdonald, that he had a valuable tool in his offensive toolbox.
Macdonald told “Around The NFL” that his coaching staff has a “really cool plan” for Smith-Njigba to continue his progression in his second season.
In fact, the new head man described his young receiver as “a guy that we can focus our offense around.”
That is high praise for an offense that is loaded with weapons such as D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Noah Fant, and it is well deserved.
Even while starting only three games for the Seahawks in 2023, Smith-Njigba caught an impressive 63 passes for 628 yards and four touchdowns.
This despite suffering a fractured wrist in a preseason game.
With a season of experience under his belt and what should be a highly motivated quarterback in Geno Smith, it would not be surprising to see the second-year player add to those totals.
It will help immeasurably that he will often line up opposite D.K. Metcalf, one of the top wideouts in the league who commands much of the defense’s attention.
