Pete Carroll 'Fired Up' About WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba in Seahawks Offense
While the Seattle Seahawks were certainly not hurting for offensive weapons entering the draft, it is hard to blame them for selecting Ohio State receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba at No. 20 overall.
Smith-Njigba joins the Seahawks alongside one of the NFL's best receiving duos in DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, giving them a potentially elite trio in the passing game. As for the why of the pick, coach Pete Carroll detailed what went into the thought process behind selecting Smith-Njigba in an interview on Seattle Sports Radio.
“We wanted to complement Tyler and DK and make sure that we could maximize how we use those guys," Carroll said. "And it did mean for us to come up with a guy that we could count on to play inside.
“Jaxon was extremely effective doing that and he has a real natural sense about the way he plays and how he fits there. So it was more than just getting Jaxon. It was about how it was going to enhance the other guys’ play as well."
One look at Smith-Njigba's numbers from his 2021 season and it becomes evident how big of a weapon the Seahawks added in the Ohio State product. That season saw him record 95 receptions for 1,606 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, and was capped off by a dominant Rose Bowl performance of 15 receptions for 347 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
Yes, there may be some concern regarding how he bounces back from a hamstring injury that limited him to only three games in his final season. However, Carroll is excited to add another electric receiver to an already explosive offense.
"I’m really fired up about it," Carroll said. "He’s a really consummate guide in terms of his work, his route-running his catching — he’s got terrific hands. We’re really fired up. He’s a come through guy and we think he’s gonna fit in well.”
It's understandable why Carroll and the rest of the Seahawks are excited about the prospect of what Smith-Njigba could bring to Seattle's offense. If he can bounce back from his hamstring injury to his 2021 form, then the Seahawks have the potential to field one of the NFL's best receiving trios.
You can find Connor Zimmerlee on Twitter @Connorjz98
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