How can Jaxon Smith-Njigba take another step forward? The league-leading wide receiver in yards last season is all about getting better, no matter how good he is already, it would seem. During the Seattle Seahawks mini-camps this week, Smith-Njigba is hard at work, and he's not letting this offseason go to waste.Â
Smith-Njigba led the league in 1,793 yards last season, with touchdowns, and came oh-so-close to reaching the single-season record in receiving yards, a record that remains in the clutches of the great Calvin Johnson. The question is: Can Smith-Njigba take another run at it next season and actually reach it?
One of the most exciting things to watch next season will be Smith-Njigba's second year as the Seahawks' go-to option for Sam Darnold. If he ends up putting up similar or better numbers than he did last season, that puts a period and an exclamation mark at the end of 'Smith-Njigba is certainly elite.' And if you ask him, three words describe just how much better he can get.Â
Seattle Seahawks' WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba narrows down how he can get better to several key factors
If you're arguing that Smith-Njigba is already elite, then that's a fair conclusion. That said, it may take another season or two to have him sit down on a chair in a room with Justing Jefferson or Ja'Marr Chase, who are, without question, the NFL's top two wide receivers.Â
There is one win that Smith-Njigba has over his counterparts, Jefferson and Chase; however, neither has a Super Bowl win. For now, Smith-Njigba can hold that over their heads. It was more than just winning the Super Bowl that made Smith-Njigba shine even brighter, but his explosive 2025-26 season came almost out of nowhere.Â
When the Seahawks decided to let go of Geno Smith and sign Darnold, it was a risky play. The same could be said for the decision to trade away DK Metcalf, opening the door for Smith-Njigba to take over the No. 1 spot at wide receiver.
It's unlikely the Seahawks front office expected Smith-Njigba to explode in his first season as the primary target, but he blew the doors off and blew away expectations.Â
Both he and Darnold are about to undertake their second season together, and Seahawks fans can only wait with anticipation to see what happens in year two. That said, despite last season's quick rise and success, Smith-Njigba knows he can be even better, and he was asked about what he feels he can do to take another step during mini-camps this week.
"Like I said in the offseason, it's always attacking, getting bigger, faster, stronger, and that second year of growth with Sam," Smith-Njigba answered, " and the team, and you know, playing off Sheed [Rashid Shaheed] and Coop [Cooper Kupp] and just evolving in that way."
If Smith-Njigba can get any faster, that would be terrible for the rest of the league, considering how fast he is already. While getting bigger, faster, and stronger are key to his growth, as Smith-Njigba said, it's what he said about Darnold that should be the most important.Â
One season showed how dangerous the Darnold-to-Smith-Njigba connection was. Now add another full offseason and a second regular season to their chemistry-building, and their ceiling will be significantly higher.
As long as Darnold continues his rise within his career resurgence, and Smith-Njgba continues on his elite trajectory, the Seahawks will continue to be one of the most dangerous offensive teams across the NFL.
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