The #Seahawks signed first-round pick Jaxon Smith-Njigba, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 11, 2023
According to a report by Tom Pelissero at NFL Network, the Seahawks have signed one of their two first-round draft picks: former Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Smith-Njigba (6-foot-1, 196 pounds) was projected to be drafted somewhere in the teens, but he fell to Seattle at No. 20 overall – fitting in perfectly between Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf on a receiver corps that should now be considered the best in the NFC, if not the entire league.
At the scouting combine, JSN’s short-area quickness was on display as he ran a 6.57 second 3-cone drill and a 3.93 second 20-yard shuttle. In theory, that will help him create separation from the slot and produce a lot of yards after the catch – both areas that were missing from this offense.
How the Seahawks managed to find the cash should make for an interesting story. Smith-Njigba’s contract will be in the $14.4 million range, but coming into the day Seattle was somewhere around $4.5 million over the cap. They have reportedly tweaked Tyler Lockett’s contract, freeing up some $5.69 million in the process. They’ve also signed former Raiders defensive end Mario Edwards, though. This is a reminder that the NFL’s salary cap is nothing if not fluid.
