JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA

Ja’Marr Chase slips from No. 1 spot among NFL’s highest-paid wide receivers

Fresh off winning a Super Bowl title last season, the Seattle Seahawks have now locked up one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. MORE: 3x All-Pro WR teases partnership with Kyler Murray, Justin Jefferson on Vikings As per…

By Yahoo Sports

• March 23, 2026 at 2:23 PM

Ja’Marr Chase slips from No. 1 spot among NFL’s highest-paid wide receivers Photo: Yahoo Sports

Fresh off winning a Super Bowl title last season, the Seattle Seahawks have now locked up one of the best wide receivers in the NFL.

MORE: 3x All-Pro WR teases partnership with Kyler Murray, Justin Jefferson on Vikings
As per ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, the Seahawks have come to a deal to give star WR and Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba a four year contract extension.

ESPN Sources: Offensive Player of the Year and Super-Bowl champion Jaxon Smith-Njigba reached agreement with the Seattle Seahawks on a four-year, $168.6 million contract extension that now makes him the highest-paid WR in NFL history.

The deal averages $42.15 million per year,… pic.twitter.com/WFBtZqE4L2
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 23, 2026

Schefter reports that WIN Sports group confirmed this deal and that the contract extension is worth $168.6 million.

This will see Smith-Njigba become the highest paid receiver in league history.

According to Schefter, the 24 year old Smith-Njigba’s contract extension includes over $120 million guaranteed.

The former Ohio State standout is also set to earn an average of $42.15 million per year.

Both of these marks are record figures for an NFL wide receiver.

Feb 8, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) makes a c atch against New England Patriots cornerback Carlton Davis III (7) during the first quarter in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium.

Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

JSN now ahead of Ja’Marr Chase

Smith-Njigba will also now take over from Cincinnati Bengals wideout Ja’Marr Chase to claim the top spot for wide receivers with the highest annual earnings, as per Schefter.

In Seattle’s Super Bowl winning 2025 campaign, Smith-Njigba developed into a remarkable offensive weapon in what was his third year in the league.

Overall, the former first round pick recorded career highs last season in receiving yards, touchdowns and receptions with 1793 yards, 10 TDs and 119 receptions respectively, as per nfl.com.