12 of the most important players on the Seattle Seahawks roster for the 2023 season
- Geno Smith leads the charge for the new season ahead
- D.K. Metcalf will only get better in 2023
- Kenneth Walker is ready for a huge sophomore year
Jaxon Smith-Njigba - WR
Perhaps it's a bit premature to consider a rookie one of the most important players on a team, but in the case of Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the title fits.
As a hopeful future centerpiece of the Seahawks' offense, Smith-Njigba is poised to bring another dynamic to an already impressive receiving corps. Entering the 2023 draft, he was considered the best receiver of the class, even with a down year in 2022 due to a season-ending hamstring injury, primarily because of how impressive he was the season before.
During his sophomore season at Ohio State in 2021, Smith-Njigba broke school and Big Ten records with his standout performance. Through 13 games, he totaled 95 receptions for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns while averaging 16.9 yards per reception.
He continued that kind of production during the Rose Bowl game at the end of the season, making 15 catches for 347 yards and three touchdowns.
As he prepares to join the Seahawks for his first NFL season, Smith-Njigba will have an incredible mentor in Tyler Lockett, as he projects to join the veteran as one of the team's slot receivers.
If the 2021 season is any indication of the type of player he is and the production he will bring to the field, Smith-Njigba's presence on the Seahawks' offense could be an essential part of their success during the season.