The Seattle Seahawks extended wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba on Thursday to a four-year contract worth $168.8 million — $42.15 million per year — making him the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history and the first player at the position to surpass $42 million annually.

The deal eclipses the previous record set by Ja'Marr Chase, who signed a four-year extension with Cincinnati last spring at $40.25 million per year. Smith-Njigba's contract includes $113 million fully guaranteed, per league sources.

Smith-Njigba, 24, was a first-team All-Pro selection in 2025 after posting 119 receptions for 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns — all career highs — while operating in a Seattle offense that had meaningful deficiencies at other positions. He was a central contributor to the Seahawks' Super Bowl LX championship, their first since the 2013 season.

The extension was completed without a protracted negotiation. Both sides had engaged in preliminary discussions before the new league year, and the organization moved to finalize the deal as soon as the market price became clear. General manager John Schneider has repeatedly identified Smith-Njigba as one of the franchise's irreplaceable pieces since acquiring him in the 2023 draft with the twentieth overall pick.

Smith-Njigba's development trajectory — limited production in his first two seasons behind Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf, then an explosion in year three following the departure of both veterans — has been cited by evaluators as a case study in patience with young receivers who enter systems with established personnel. The 2025 season removed any remaining uncertainty about his projection. He is under contract through 2030.

---

Sources: "NFL free agency 2026: all signings," ESPN | "2026 NFL free agency tracker," NFL.com | "Jaxon Smith-Njigba sets WR record," CBS Sports