Sam Darnold and JSN could be NFL’s most potent QB-WR duo in 2026

Will Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba be the most prolific QB-WR duo in the NFL next season.

Darnold recorded 4,048 passing yards in 2025, while Smith-Njigba led the NFL in receiving yards with 1,793. Smith-Njigba won the AP Offensive Player of the Year award last season, and Darnold was one of only six quarterbacks to amass over 4,000 yards on the year.

The duo of Darnold and JSN led the Seahawks to a Super Bowl victory at the end of last season. However, there were other elite duos that played exceptionally well in 2025.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matt Stafford led the NFL in passing yards in 2026 with 4,707 and won the AP NFL MVP award at the end of the season. Rams star WR Puka Nacua finished second in the league in REC yards last season behind Smith-Njigba with 1,715.

The Rams’ duo was the most potent QB-WR tandem in the NFL last season. The only other quarterbacks outside of Stafford that threw for over 4,500 yards last season were Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff (4,564 yards) and Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott (4,552 yards). Both had receivers that went for over 1,400 yards in 2025. Cowboys WR George Pickens recorded 1,429 and Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown recorded 1,401.

Those were the only three duos that were more prolific than Darnold and Smith-Njigba when taking into account their combined passing and receiving yards registered on the year.

With Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet set to begin the 2026 NFL season on the shelf due to injury, the Seahawks may rely more on their passing game early in the year, giving Darnold and Smith-Njigba the chance to outperform all other duos in the NFL statistically next season.

This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Will Seahawks’ Darnold, JSN be NFL’s most potent QB-WR duo in 2026?