Two of Seattle’s top defensive stars missed the NFL Top 100 cut.
After a season in which he led the league with 1,793 receiving yards and won the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba continues to earn recognition. He was named one of the final 10 players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2026 list, joining linebacker Ernest Jones IV (No. 97) and quarterback Sam Darnold (No. 21) as the only Seahawks on the ranking. In addition to Jones, Smith-Njigba’s appearance marks the first of his career, and unlikely the last.
The final stretch of the ranking will begin on August 24, with one player unveiled each weekday.
The reigning Super Bowl champions have just three players on the list. That is surprising, especially since their division rivals, the Los Angeles Rams, whom the Seahawks beat 31-27 in the NFC Championship last season, have three players in the top 10 alone. Defensive end Myles Garrett hasn’t played a snap for the franchise yet.
From Seattle’s perspective, the most notable part of the ranking may be who was left off. Pro Bowl cornerback Devon Witherspoon, now the highest paid player at his position, narrowly missed at No. 107. He was placed behind Jalen Ramsey (No. 82), Jaycee Horn (No. 76) and Cooper DeJean (No. 38).
While Witherspoon’s absence is notable, defensive lineman Leonard Williams was arguably a bigger snub. He had another productive year in 2025 under head coach Mike Macdonald, racking up seven sacks and 58 pressures while remaining an elite force in stopping the run. He didn’t get a mention, unlike Derrick Brown (No. 90), Zach Allen (No. 73) and Jalen Carter (No. 29).
Smith-Njigba, Darnold and Jones earned the respect they deserved, but several other Seahawks did not, including Byron Murphy II and Nick Emmanwori.
Source: www.fieldgulls.com — Read the original article
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