Timing of Jaxon Smith-Njigba Deal Could Force Rams to Overspend on Puka Nacua

The Seahawks and Rams battled all season for the NFC West division crown and then battled for the right to go to the Super Bowl and Seattle has emerged, at least for now, ahead of Los Angeles again this offseason, though with the stakes not nearly as high.

Both teams have superstar receivers primed to reset the market at their position, one in which salaries have soared in recent years – and the Seahawks ability to secure Jaxon Smith-Njigba signed to a long-term deal before the Rams did as such with Puka Nacua is likely to end up with the Rams having to pay even more of a premium to eventually secure their All Pro for the duration of the peak of his career.

Seattle general manager John Schneuder is widely regarded by his peers as one of the best in the business, and the Seahawks and Rams front offices may be the two best in football right now. There was never going to be a realistic scenario in which either did not move forward in the 2026 season without their top pass catchers locked up long-term. 

But Seattle has one inherit advantage working in its favor in this regard, Smith-Njigba, as a first-round pick, was subject to a fifth-year option (for 2027), while Nacua was a fifth-round pick in 2023 and would require a franchise tag applied after next season for Los Angeles to keep him off the open market if not extended prior to them.

Did the fifth-year option help?

While Smith-Njigba earned far more in base salary during the first three years of his career given how much higher he was drafted than Nacua, the built-in extra year of service time for Seattle also was no small factor in helping secure a four-year deal with a whopping $120M in guarantees.

“It’s a great deal for the team and a great deal for the player,” one rival GM said. “John wanted to get ahead of the Rams on this… Nacua was going to get more (than Smth-Njigba), anyway, but it’s great timing for Seattle.”

Both receivers are absolute game-breakers, but Nacua has more position flexibility (he essentially plays multiple receiver and tight end positions for the Rams), and he’s bigger and stronger and is more of a presence in the run game, which is foundational in head coach Sean McVay’s offense. 

The Rams have never shied away from paying their super stars and won’t here, either. But this receiver race was just one more rivalry within what is becoming one of the NFL’s best.