Did Seahawks 'Address Need' By Drafting WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba?

The Seattle Seahawks had a glaring hole in their offense last season at slot receiver...and the franchise addressed that via the draft.

The Seattle Seahawks had a surprising season last year as Geno Smith took over from the departed Russell Wilson. With an offense that had D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett as the go-to guys, the Seahawks made the postseason.

Smith had a career year and was rewarded with a Pro Bowl nod, but there was a glaring issue in the Seahawks' offense that needed to be fixed: slot receiver.

Entering the draft, Seattle had two first-round picks (No. 5 and No. 20). And after drafting Devon Witherspoon with the fifth pick, Seattle took Ohio State receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba later in the first round.

PFF's Seth Galina likes what Seattle has done this offseason and is predicting some exciting times for the Seahawks after addressing a significant issue.

"This was an offense that came out of the gate last year on fire," Galina said recently on NFL Total Access. "The Geno Smith story was incredible, but it tapered off down the stretch from Week 14 on. It seems like they have addressed some of their needs, specifically at slot receiver.

With Lockett and Metcalf surpassing the 1,000-yard mark last season in an offense that averaged 23.9 points per game (ranked No. 9), adding Smith-Njigba gives offensive coordinator Shane Waldron a bonafide slot receiver.

"They had a horrid time throwing to slot receivers last year," Galina said. "D.K. Metcalf is an outside receiver, Tyler Lockett, even though he's a smaller type of receiver, he's more outside. So, what did they do? They draft Jaxon Smith-Njigba, a career slot guy. He gives Geno Smith an outlet, watching his tape from Ohio State, he can do it all, so exciting times for them."

With the NFC seemingly now an open slather, the Seahawks have the offensive artillery to make some noise, with Smith-Njigba adding another layer to an offense that was tough to stop last season.

The rookie has hit the ground running at OTA's and minicamp as he looks to make his mark on the offense after putting his hamstring issue behind him.

Smith has another year in the starting role, and with an offense now full of weapons, the so-called rebuild in the post-Russell Wilson era almost feels over, with Smith-Njigba now helping lead the charge.

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