Seahawks rookie already displaying star potential

"He's so impressive," quarterback Geno Smith said, per Sports Illustrated. "Very smooth route-runner; natural hands. Also, the game is not too big for him." 

Smith also noted Smith-Njigba's confidence and natural ability to quickly learn offensive assignments, a rarity for any rookie this early into an NFL career. 

The Seahawks hope the 6-foot-1 196-pound JSN solidifies an offensive attack ranked among the NFL's best in 2022. He figures to plug in at the slot to provide extra weaponry alongside Metcalf and Lockett, who each recorded 1,000-yard receiving seasons in 2022. 

Echoing the optimism is Seahawks senior director of player personnel Matt Berry, who said, "We haven't had a player in quite some time -- a young player, a rookie coming in -- with his instincts and his ability to separate from the slot, so we're excited about him." 

Seahawks fans will be more than excited if the former Buckeye builds on the potential he displayed early in his college career, most notably during a record-breaking performance in the 2022 Rose Bowl.

The then-sophomore torched the Utah defense on his way to 347 receiving yards, an FBS record for a bowl, making 15 catches (three of which went for touchdowns). It was the last time the budding star played fully healthy at Ohio State, as a lingering hamstring injury limited him to three games in 2023.

Finally back at full health, he's showing what makes him such a special talent, a sentiment shared by ESPN's Todd McShay. 

"You can just tell by watching the tape that he has a feel for the game and uses those instincts to beat defensive backs," he wrote in April. "This is going to be a dangerous offense if Geno Smith can repeat what he did last season."