Jaxon Smith-Njigba was widely viewed as the best wide receiver in the 2023 NFL Draft and regarded as a steal for the Seattle Seahawks when they were able to snag him 20th overall in the first round.
But his rookie season didn't vindicate either of those assessments.
Playing as the third wide receiver alongside DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, Smith-Njigba's maiden season in the NFL was a quiet one. He still managed to catch 63 passes for 628 yards and four touchdowns, but Smith-Njigba did not make the kind of impact many expected from the former Ohio State Buckeye.
Among the 80 wide receivers with at least 50 targets last season, Smith-Njigba ranked 56th with just 1.4 yards per route run, per Sports Info Solutions. He was 73rd with only 46 percent of his receptions going for a first down. Perhaps most concerning, his drop rate of 9.3 percent was tied eighth.
Despite those disappointing numbers, Seahawks head coach Mike MacDonald is confident a more positive impact is coming in 2024.
With Metcalf not present at this voluntary period of the offseason workout program, Smith-Njigba was the star of Seattle's OTA practice on Thursday. Per Brady Henderson of ESPN, Geno Smith and Smith-Njigba connected on seven touchdowns across seven-on-seven and 11-on-11 drills, though such numbers are skewed by the fact that defensive backs are not permitted to contest throws in these practices.
But MacDonald has still been impressed with Smith-Njigba and is anticipating strides following a rookie year that was hindered somewhat by the wideout undergoing wrist surgery last August.
Smith-Njigba's excellent practice performance came despite him regularly going against last year's fifth overall pick Devon Witherspoon.
Asked what it was like to watch Smith-Njigba compete with the Pro Bowl cornerback, MacDonald replied: "It's great. JSN is a great player and expecting great big things out of him. He's had a great offseason. Works his tail off. His practice habits are awesome. Moving ability is pretty elite. I think we got a really cool plan for him.
"For him and Spoon a lot of times end up going against each other, it's tough right now. You can't contest the ball, but you're trying to be competitive. We're in these red zone periods, so there is a delicate balance there. I thought we handled it great staying off the ground and making some really good plays and executing at a high level, so good day."
Smith-Njigba will need to stack more good days when the practice conditions are less favorable for hype around a breakout season to grow, but there's no doubt that with his route-running ability and ball-tracking skills, he has the potential to become a star at the highest level.
The challenge for MacDonald and his staff is to back up his positive assessment of Smith-Njigba by finding a way to harness that potential in a way Pete Carroll and his staff could not.
