'A Natural!': Seahawks' Pete Carroll Details Early Impressions of WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba

As Seattle Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba continues to ramp up to full speed, coach Pete Carroll had plenty of praise for the rookie receiver.

When the Seattle Seahawks drafted Ohio State receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba with the No. 20 overall pick in April's draft, they added another elite weapon to one of the NFL's rising offenses. 

In drafting him though, the Seahawks knew they would be easing him into offseason activities as he works his way back from a hamstring injury that limited him to just three games with the Buckeyes in 2022. However, with the rookie getting closer and closer to full speed, coach Pete Carroll raved about what he has to offer. 

“Oh, man, he’s really, really natural," Carroll said. "He’s really a natural athlete, gifted in his timing, in and out of breaks and things and his feel. He also has, which we saw this in the workout at school, he’s got great change of direction in him, and he’s got this marvelous ability to get in out of his turns."

While it can be easy to get caught up in his injury-shortened 2022, one look at 2021 shows what he can do when on the field. Smith-Njigba recorded 95 receptions for 1,609 yards and nine touchdowns, showing off the hands Carroll has been so high on in camp. 

"His hands are just as natural as can be," Carroll said. "He’s really a bright football player too, it makes sense to him. We’ve already moved him all around, he’d been inside, outside and all kinds of stuff. And so that looks like it’s just what we were looking for.”

After already impressing early on, there's no telling the level Smith-Njigba can rise up to once training camp and preseason begins.

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You can find Connor Zimmerlee on Twitter @Connorjz98

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