Seahawks expect second-year WR to be 'massive piece'

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Although the Seahawks offense finished last season in the middle of the pack in most categories, they're running it back with most of the same players.

With that comes higher expectations for Seattle's young playmakers, which is exactly what new head coach Mike Macdonald is hoping to see out of second-year wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

"He's a guy that we can focus our offense around, along with other guys," Macdonald said, via ESPN's Brady Henderson. "Tyler Lockett is still a great player. DK Metcalf, phenomenal player. The runners, Noah Fant. But he's definitely going to be a massive piece of what we're trying to do offensively."

What Macdonald means by a massive piece is up for debate. Metcalf and Lockett should still have large roles of their own after combining for 145 catches for 2,008 yards and 13 touchdowns last season.

Still, it is reasonable to expect the former first-round pick to make a jump in year two.

Smith-Njigba suffered a fractured wrist in his second preseason game, but still managed to appear in every game and put together a solid rookie campaign in which he posted 63 catches for 628 yards and four touchdowns.

The 22-year-old believes 2023 has set him up for further success this year.

"I felt like it was a good foundation," Smith-Njigba said. "I can grow from it. A lot of growing pains, a lot of ups and downs, but kind of similar from first years of college and in high school. Kind of the same thing."

The Seahawks used Smith-Njigba in different spots last season, lining him up on the outside and in the slot. Macdonald doesn't expect that to change under first-year offensive coordinator Ryan Grub.

"[Smith-Njigba]'s just a hard cover, man," Macdonald added. "He can play outside, inside, and Grubb does a great job of kind of moving guys around and finding some matchups. His lower body power and flexibility and being able to accelerate and obviously just having great hands and being able to track the ball is pretty impressive."

Macdonald is hoping Smith-Njigba has the breakout season everyone seems to think he will as he attempts to fill the big shoes left by Pete Carroll.

"JSN's a great player and [we're] expecting big things out of him," Macdonald concluded. "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."

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