The Seattle Seahawks have the best -- or one of the best -- wide receivers in the National Football League. However, as good as Jaxon Smith-Njigba is, he can only do so much on his own; this is a team sport for a reason.
Smith-Njigba has already shown that he can handle work in the slot or outside, and he'll be the team's primary offensive focus in 2026. However, he will need his fellow wide receivers to step up and draw some defensive attention away from him.
While Rashid Shaheed might be the right guy for the job with his mesmerizing speed, the same cannot be said of Cooper Kupp. He was solid in his first year in Seattle, but he might be in for a down season in year two.
The Seattle Seahawks may not get much from Cooper Kupp in 2026
The Los Angeles Rams gave up on 32-year-old Cooper Kupp after eight seasons. He responded by heading back home to the great state of Washington and hauling in 47 catches on 70 targets for 593 yards and two scores. Then, he added 15 receptions for 157 yards and one touchdown in the playoffs.
Those numbers aren't necessarily elite, but they're far better than the average 32-year-old. Also, perhaps he would've been more involved if it weren't for Smith-Njigba going absolutely nuclear on a weekly basis.
That said, Father Time is ruthless, and wide receivers over 30 seem to age twice as fast. Kupp has endured a beating and multiple injuries, and while he's never been the one to beat defensive backs with his speed or acceleration, losing a step can be lethal in this league.
Of course, the Seahawks might be well aware of this. Scheming a heavy usage for a 33-year-old player with a recent history of injuries might not be the wisest way to maximize your assets, but it might be a major issue if Shaheed doesn't pick up some of the slack.
On paper, the Seahawks are high on Shaheed and his speed, and he already showed flashes of his electric, big-play expertise. Now, the question is whether he can also make the layups and keep the chains in motion when JSN is double-teamed. He doesn't need to swing for the fences on every drive, just be a reliable guy who can keep the offense on the field.
At the end of the day, the Seahawks won't be the only team with a true alpha and other pass catchers trying to pick up the slack, but they're not like every team. They'll have a huge target on their backs, and with the Los Angeles Rams going the extra mile to dethrone them, the margin for error will be pretty close to zero.
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