The Seattle Seahawks fielded a competitive team in Mike Macdonald’s first year as head coach in 2024. The Seahawks finished 10-7, falling just short of making the postseason. As disappointing as that was, several improving players helped Macdonald compete throughout his debut season.
Pro Football Focus recently wrote an article highlighting every team’s most improved player. Unsurprisingly for the Seahawks, they chose sophomore wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
“The Seahawks drafted Jaxon Smith-Njigba with the 20th overall pick in 2023, with the hopes that he could be the next star receiver in Seattle,” Thomas Valentine wrote. “His rookie season gave us glimpses of what could be in store but was mostly underwhelming. But Smith-Njigba fully arrived in 2024, catching 100 of 137 targets for 1,130 yards and six touchdowns, leading the team in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.”
Packers: Zach Tom
Panthers: Bryce YoungEvery team’s most improved player this seasonhttps://t.co/uh2jo5Xt1W
— PFF (@PFF) January 18, 2025
Smith-Njigba led the Seahawks in targets (137), receptions (100), receiving yards (1,130), and touchdowns (6). JSN equaled Tyler Lockett’s single-season franchise record for catches in one season. Naming him Seattle’s most-improved player is fair and accurate.
“From Week 8-onwards, he earned the third-highest grade among receivers (90.1), catching 63 passes for 811 yards and five touchdowns,” Valentine continued. “Smith-Njigba’s role in the offense expanded to him doing everything in the slot, and he caught eight passes of 20 yards or more from Week 8-onwards, the second-most in the NFL. The former Buckeye is making a name for himself as one of the next star slot receivers in the NFL.”
The Seahawks are fortunate to have Smith-Njigba, as the former first-round selection took necessary strides as a sophomore. He’ll return next season alongside DK Metcalf as an upper-tier one-two punch at wide receiver in Seattle. Smith-Njigba will enter his third professional campaign as one of the most ascending pass catchers in the league.
