Seattle Seahawks Face Urgency in Securing Devon Witherspoon's Contract Extension
The Seattle Seahawks recently made headlines by signing star Jaxon Smith-Njigba to a lucrative four-year, $168.6 million contract extension, establishing him as the highest-paid wide receiver in the league. Selected with the 20th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Smith-Njigba's rapid rise to prominence at his position warranted this major deal. Next on the Seahawks' agenda is negotiating a similar contract with Devon Witherspoon, the No. 5 overall pick from the same draft. Witherspoon has also emerged as an elite player, making the Pro Bowl in all three of his NFL seasons and earning a Second Team All-Pro designation in 2025. However, reports from ESPN indicate that the Seahawks are not yet close to finalizing an agreement with him. Witherspoon recently showcased his skills in a standout performance during Super Bowl LX, where he recorded: Four tackles, including one for loss One sack Three quarterback hits A pass defensed that prevented a potential touchdown As Witherspoon enters the fourth year of his rookie contract, the market for top cornerbacks continues to rise, particularly after Trent McDuffie's recent deal with the Los Angeles Rams, which reset the market for cornerbacks. Current top cornerback contracts include: Trent McDuffie: 4 years, $124M Sauce Gardner: 4 years, $120.4M Derek Stingley Jr.: 3 years, $90M Adding complexity to Witherspoon's negotiations is the simultaneous contract eligibility of Christian Gonzalez from the New England Patriots, who shares the same agency, suggesting that their negotiations may influence each other. While the Seahawks have time to negotiate—having picked up Witherspoon's fifth-year option for the 2027 season—finalizing an extension sooner rather than later is in their best interest. Witherspoon is poised to secure what could be the richest contract in cornerback history.
Source: CBS Sports - 2026-05-26