Do the Seahawks have the next Alpha WR1? – The manager

On By Littum

Normally, this would mean relying heavily on vertical DK Metcalf routes or soft-spot routes to Tyler Lockett while mixing up running backs on shorter passes.

However, the offense has been turned over to sophomore receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba from Ohio State. Smith-Njigba posted a solid rookie campaign with 600 receiving yards and four touchdowns, but failed to escape Metcalf’s shadow and settled for third fiddle in a mediocre passing attack.

The Seahawks’ reliance on their passing attack, father time to Lockett and injuries to Metcalf mean they needed Smith-Njigba to step up and fill their holes. And he has step up.

After a slow first game in which he had a paltry two catches for 19 yards, Smith-Njigba exploded onto the scene against the Patriots, commanding 16 targets with 12 receptions for 117 yards. While he slowed down over the next few games when Metcalf left with an injury, he posted a monster 180 yards and hasn’t looked back since.

What makes his boom even more impressive is that Smith-Njiba represents an evolving mold of NFL receivers who are slowly starting to take over the league. Gone are the 2010s when alpha X receivers played physical football and dominated with contested catches.

While X receivers such as Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson are still commonplace in football and dominate at the highest level, smaller slot receivers are slowly starting to make names and carve out niches in NFL offenses.

Cooper Kupp’s 2021 season was the form. He operated mainly out of the slot and ended up having the best single season in NFL history, with a monstrous 1,947 yards. He gave birth to this new archetype, which has allowed players like Amon-Ra St. Brown, Ladd McConkey and now Smith-Njigba to excel in the slot.

Part of what made Russell Wilson so good was the constancy of a security blanket. Doug Baldwin served as this earlier in his career, and Lockett took over duties soon after. They never made the flashiest catches, but always seemed to find the right spot in the zone, picking up important 3rd and medium or shortening a 2nd and long into a third and short.

That Baldwin-esque role is where Smith-Njigba now finds himself, except with sharper route-running skills, stickier hands and a more athletic talent. He has been able to dominate, especially over the middle of the field, and led all receivers in the NFL in virtually every statistic from the field. But even when lined up on the outside, he has shown promise and been able to generate production.

Smith-Njigba’s talent in the slot will hardly hamper DK’s role as a dominant outside receiver. While talented, he lacks the physicality of Metcalf and other outside pass-catchers and will likely remain in the slot.

Smith-Njigba’s emergence and Metcalf’s return make the Seahawks a nightmare to play for. If Metcalf gets covered, Geno Smith and Ryan Grubb will attack the middle of the field, making life impossible for the linebackers. If they stack up in the middle, the defense risks leaving Metcalf outside in one-on-one coverage.

No matter how you say it, Smith-Njigba’s breakout has opened up the Seahawks’ offense, making plays more difficult. While he may never become a true outside threat, the Seahawks may have found themselves the next gem at the slot receiver position.