Former NFL player and scout Bucky Brooks knows the ins and outs of this league, providing keen insight in his notebook. Today's installment covers:
But first, a look at an ascending superstar in Seattle ...
Move over, Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson: There is a new WR1 in the NFL, and his name is Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
By any metric, the third-year pro has snatched the crown away from his predecessors, easily leading the league with 1,313 receiving yards through 11 games. Averaging a staggering 119.4 receiving yards per game -- no one else is in the triple digits -- JSN has posted at least 75 receiving yards in every game this year, becoming just the third wideout to hit that mark in 11 consecutive games at any point in a season (Cooper Kupp, 2021; Marvin Harrison Sr., 2002). Currently on pace for 2,029 receiving yards, Smith-Njigba could blow past Calvin Johnson's single-season record (1,964 in 2012) and become the NFL's first 2,000-yard receiver.
Most impressively, JSN is doing this on a Seattle Seahawks squad that throws the ball at the lowest percentage in the league: 48.9 percent of snaps, with no one else below 50 percent. Everyone knows where the ball is going whenever Sam Darnold drops back to pass, and yet, Smith-Njigba continues to terrorize opposing defenses. The third-year pro's dominance can no longer be overlooked. JSN has emerged as the kind of unstoppable force that even his most ardent supporters couldn't envision when he entered the league.
While I was high on Smith-Njigba's talent and potential as a big-play specialist in the 2023 NFL Draft cycle -- ranking the Ohio State product as my WR1 in the class prior to his first-round selection at No. 20 overall -- the 6-foot, 197-pounder has surpassed my expectations as a spectacular route runner with explosive playmaking skills. He has shown positional flexibility, moving around the formation to take advantage of favorable matchups. Whether he's positioned on the outside as an "X" (split end) or "Z" (flanker) to work against outside cornerbacks or aligning in the slot to take on nickels and safeties, JSN's route-running mastery and versatility create headaches for defensive coordinators attempting to utilize double coverage to minimize his impact.
Moreover, Smith-Njigba's polished overall game separates him from others. He made his first Pro Bowl last season, catching 100 balls for 1,130 yards and seven touchdowns, but the 23-year-old has taken his game to another level in 2025. He can win as a pure route artisan or scoot past defenders on the catch-and-run concepts that enable him to showcase his speed, quickness and wiggle in the open field. In addition, JSN routinely comes down with 50-50 balls, showcasing outstanding hand-eye coordination and ball skills.
With new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak immediately recognizing Smith-Njigba's impact potential following the breakout 2024 campaign, the Seahawks have found various ways to showcase their WR1 without compromising their commitment to a smash-mouth offensive attack. Seattle has tapped into his talents as a vertical threat to create more explosive plays in the passing game. JSN comfortably leads the league with eight catches of 40-plus yards, significantly benefiting from Kubiak's schematic wizardry. The dynamic play-caller will take advantage of one-on-one coverage with cleverly designed double moves or "get open" routes, enabling Smith-Njigba to use his route-running artistry to twist defenders into knots.
As a member of the Jaguars' radio broadcast team, I got an up-close look at JSN during Seattle's Week 6 win at Jacksonville. He caught eight passes for 162 yards and a touchdown in the game, but one play in particular stood out to me. Greg Newsome II had just arrived in Duval himself via trade, and his first snap in a Jaguars uniform did not go well. With Newsome aligned near the Seahawks' sideline on the first play of Seattle's fourth drive, Kubiak had his No. 1 receiver go to work on an overmatched corner from a snug alignment. Smith-Njigba cooked Newsome for a 61-yard touchdown on a post route. The attack mentality from the play-caller and the flawless execution from the route-runner -- along with a perfectly placed heave from Darnold -- reflected what we've seen all season in Smith-Njigba's rise to superstardom. When the X's and O's match the skills of a blue-chip player, the performance and production go to another level.
JSN is threatening to rewrite the NFL record books, and he's doing so in a run-first offense. It's wildly impressive. I'll be interested to see what he can do this Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, with Brian Flores fielding a solid defense against the pass. But I sure wouldn't bet against Smith-Njigba -- not when I'm crowning him as the league's top receiver.
Can Garrett break career sack record?
Even by his usual standards, Myles Garrett is hunting quarterbacks at an extremely prolific level in 2025. He's stampeded to 18 sacks within his first 11 games, including a jaw-dropping 14 over his past five. At that pace, he's on track to finish with 28 quarterback takedowns, obliterating the single-season mark of 22.5, currently shared by T.J. Watt (2021) and Michael Strahan (2001).
It would be an obvious highlight of a career that seems sure to lead to a gold jacket and lifetime pass to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But there's another historic figure coming into view for the perennial Pro Bowler: the career sack record of 200, held by the legendary Bruce Smith.
After all, Garrett won't turn 30 until the end of December -- and he already has 120.5 sacks to his name. He's also reached double-digit sacks for eight straight seasons and counting, giving him a realistic chance to swipe the sack crown before he wraps up his time on the field.
As a former player, I played with Hall of Fame pass rushers Reggie White, Derrick Thomas and the aforementioned Smith. I was also part of the Carolina Panthers' personnel staff that watched another Hall of Famer, Julius Peppers, lead our team to Super Bowl XXXVIII. So I know what an all-timer looks like.
Back before Garrett was selected first overall by the Browns in the 2017 NFL Draft, I compared Garrett to Peppers -- and the Texas A&M product has not disappointed. He's exhibited Canton-caliber qualities (like his chiseled, 6-foot-4, 272-pound frame, freakish athleticism and disruptive skills) while exemplifying exactly what coaches and scouts are chasing in pass rushers each draft season.
The 2023 Defensive Player of the Year has dominated the game with a flair and pizzazz similar to Peppers, utilizing basketball-like maneuvers (SEE: his Allen Iverson-esque "crossover") to win against overmatched blockers at the point of attack. Additionally, he will flip his speed into power to overwhelm blockers with various bull rushes, dip-and-rip moves and swipes to crush the pocket from various alignments.
Garrett's expansive repertoire enables him to win with superior athleticism or technique. And in terms of this particular conversation, it gives the four-time first-team All-Pro a chance to remain disruptive even if his speed and quickness begin to fade, something that tends to happen with age. Most older players rely on instincts, awareness and diagnostic skills to continue winning beyond when they've lost a step. While Garrett is well known for his physical prowess now, he also has the technical savvy to stay dominant as a graybeard on the edges.
Plus, as a star player for a franchise that has endured plenty of hard times since he came aboard, Garrett has shown an unbreakable competitive spirit and a relentless motor that leads him to compete at a high level, regardless of the score. It's easy to see how he can continue to wreck shop until he hangs up the cleats, whenever that might be.
Entering Week 13, Garrett needs to total 80 more sacks to top 200. Presuming he gets at least five more to break the single-season record, he would then be 75 away -- which he could surpass by averaging 11 sacks over the next seven seasons. Add it all up, and it's not hard to imagine Garrett leaving the game with the sack crown in hand.
