This offseason, the Seattle Seahawks experience an overhaul at the wide receiver position.
Gone are long-time staples D.K. Metcalf (Pittsburgh Steelers) and Tyler Lockett (Tennessee Titans), while young, emerging playmaker Jaxon Smith-Njigba is joined by former Los Angeles Rams star Cooper Kupp.
Smith-Njigba experienced a breakout season in Year 2 after being selected as an NFL first-round draft pick in 2023, hauling in 100 receptions for 1,130 yards and six touchdowns.
Kupp, on the other hand, is looking to have a resurgence this fall after an uneven season in which registered 710 yards and six scores.
The duo could prove to be dynamic in the NFC West, especially if Kupp’s appearance on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” Monday morning proves accruate.
Asked what impressed him about Smith-Njigba, Kupp heaped on the praise.
“There’s a lot,” he said. “The first thing that struck me is that he’s a lot stronger and plays a lot stronger than people know about Jaxon. There’s a play strength that comes along with that, being able to be on the field. His decisiveness… his belief in himself and what he can do and then being able to go out of there and make it happen. (He’s incredibly competitive).”
“… The competitiveness to know, ‘I’m not going to lose,’ Jaxon has that. Similar to what Puka (Nacua) was like coming in as well, just the competitiveness and the play strength are both very similar. Really excited about being out there with (Jaxon). He’s an awesome dude, wants to get better, asks all the right question and… is striving to find an edge.”
.@jaxon_smith1 reminds @CooperKupp of another wide receiver he used to line up with👀 pic.twitter.com/gW7B4a00ah
— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) June 23, 2025
As a reminder, Nacua was drafted by the Rams with a fifth-round pick in 2023.
As a rookie, he set new NFL records for first-year players with 105 receptions and 1,486 yards.
If Smith-Njigba is reminding Kupp of his former teammate, that’s a great sign that the former Ohio State Buckeyes star can continue to build upon his first 1,000-yard season last year.
Seattle will have a new-look offense this year, but it sounds as though there’s plenty of belief in the wide receiver room.
