The Seattle Seahawks are set to kick off their 2021 NFL season with a matchup against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 1. And they’ll be doing so with a new face in the lineup: rookie wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
The 21-year-old Smith-Njigba was selected by the Seahawks in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He was the first wide receiver taken by Seattle in the draft, and he’s expected to make an immediate impact on the team’s offense.
At 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, Smith-Njigba is a physical receiver who can make plays in the air and on the ground. He’s a strong route runner with good hands, and he has the speed to get open deep downfield. He also has the ability to make defenders miss in the open field, which makes him a dangerous weapon in the Seahawks’ offense.
Smith-Njigba had a standout career at Ohio State, where he racked up 1,939 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns over three seasons. He was also named to the All-Big Ten Second Team in 2020 after leading the conference in receiving yards (1,062) and touchdowns (12).
The Seahawks are hoping that Smith-Njigba can bring that same level of production to Seattle. He’ll be competing for playing time with veterans D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, as well as fellow rookie D’Wayne Eskridge. But if he can show that he can be a reliable target for quarterback Russell Wilson, then he could be a key contributor for the Seahawks this season.
It will be exciting to see what Smith-Njigba can do in his first NFL game against the Rams. He’ll have an opportunity to make an immediate impact on the Seahawks’ offense, and it should be a great way to kick off his NFL career.
