The extension the Seattle Seahawks were obviously going to give to Jaxon Smith-Njigba was bound to happen; it just may have come sooner than expected. Nevertheless, today, JSN is the NFL's highest-paid receiver, and "today" is the key word.
In keeping with the theme of the past four to five seasons, when a wide receiver gets paid, he's usually sitting at the top for one season only, before the next guy comes along and takes his place.
Keenan Allen and Amari Cooper knocked off Julio Jones in 2021, Tyreek Hill knocked off Cooper and Allen in 2022, Justin Jefferson knocked off Hill in 2024, and Ja'Marr Chase knocked off Jefferson in 2025.
Seattle Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba owns the offseason so far, but Puka Nacua could take back control
Hill is the exception to the one-year trend at the top as he was the NFL's top-paid wideout for two years before Jefferson took his spot. That said, given the recent history, Smith-Njigba won't be atop for long, as his new deal not only reset the market for wide receivers but opened the door for the others to get paid, and get paid well.
George Pickens
Aside from Smith-Njigba and Puka Nacua, George Pickens was the league's best receiver last year, his first with the Dallas Cowboys after a messy Pittsburgh Steelers exit. Pickens produced his best season yet with 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns on 93 receptions. He was everything Dak Prescott needed, and if Prescott got his way, he would have him again next season.
Jerry Jones plays a different game, however, which leaves Pickens' future in Dallas uncertain. That said, whether from the Cowboys or someone else, Pickens is going to get paid north of $30 million, without question, and thanks to JSN's new deal, it could be closer to $40 million.
Zay Flowers
The Lamar Jackson-Zay Flowers connection hasn't exactly materialized to an elite level since the soon-to-be four-year wideout entered the league. Yet, Flowers has proven to be a solid No. 2 option, if not an elite No. 1, and he's been there for Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens when they've needed him.
Coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard-plus seasons, Flowers may just be taking a little extra time in becoming really, really good, and the Ravens will likely exercise his fifth-year option or re-negotiate a deal altogether.
Flowers will never command the dollars Smith-Njigba or even Pickens will, never mind others like Chase or Jefferson, but Flowers's chances of getting more money in the near future just became a reality thanks to Smith-Njigba.
Brandon Aiyuk
The deteriorated relationship between Brandon Aiyuk and the San Francisco 49ers has been a head-scratcher, that's for sure, but apparently not completely dead. Aiyuk is still with the team, but will likely be looking for a new home at some point. That said, the injury he suffered in 2024 — a torn ACL, MCL, and meniscus in his right knee — may still keep teams operating at the caution level.
Surprisingly, and curiously, they haven't cut bait on Aiyuk just yet, but it is almost certain their partnership is over. Which means, eventually, Aiyuk will sign elsewhere and could still command a high price (less than JSN's, mind you), and will either come in the form of an extension after a trade or a new deal as a free agent.
Puka Nacua
Nacua will be the wide receiver to cash in the greatest after the Seahawks extended Smith-Njigba (whose contract won't kick in for another two seasons). Nacua and JSN are 1A and 1B after Chase and Jefferson, as far as wide receiver ranks are concerned, and like JSN got paid for it, so will Nacua.
Like Picklens and Smith-Njigba, Nacua had a career year last season. He racked up 1,715 yards (78 behind JSN) and 10 touchdowns on 129 receptions (10 more than JSN). Nacua will eventually join Smith-Njigba and quite possibly pass him, if only by a few dollars.
Two things make this interesting: One, it will only inject more excitement and competitive noise into the Seahawks-Rams rivalry; and two, the Rams will have two of the highest-paid wideouts over the last five years, as teammate Davante Adams was once the league's highest-paid wideout for a period in 2022.