The Seattle Seahawks have made headlines by rewarding their standout wide receiver, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, with an impressive four-year contract extension valued at $168.6 million. This deal positions him as the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL. Drafted 20th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, Smith-Njigba quickly rose to prominence, earning his status as one of the league’s elite players and justifying the Seahawks’ significant investment.
Following this, the Seahawks are now focusing on negotiating a similar contract for Devon Witherspoon, the fifth overall pick from the same draft. Witherspoon has distinguished himself as a top-tier cornerback, deserving of a lucrative extension. However, according to ESPN, discussions between Witherspoon and the Seahawks are still in the early stages and far from reaching a conclusion.
Securing Witherspoon’s future with the team is a logical move for the Seahawks, given his consistent excellence at a crucial position. His achievements include making the Pro Bowl every year since joining the league and earning a Second Team All-Pro designation in 2025.
In a memorable performance during Seattle’s victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX, Witherspoon showcased his impact by recording four tackles, including one for loss, a sack, three hits on the quarterback, and a crucial pass deflection. Additionally, he contributed to a pivotal play that was initially ruled a strip-sack but later changed to an interception, leading to a game-sealing touchdown by teammate Uchenna Nwosu.
As Witherspoon enters his fourth year, he becomes eligible for an extension, and the market value for elite cornerbacks is on the rise. This trend has been evident this offseason, particularly with the Los Angeles Rams’ new addition, Trent McDuffie, whose contract surpassed those of Derek Stingley Jr. and Sauce Gardner, previously setting the standard for top cornerback deals.
Complicating Witherspoon’s contract negotiations is the parallel situation of another star cornerback, Christian Gonzalez from the New England Patriots. Both players, represented by the same agency, are up for new contracts, leading to speculation of interconnected negotiations. This scenario echoes past extension talks involving CeeDee Lamb and Justin Jefferson, although those players did not share an agency. According to ESPN, these dual negotiations could influence the outcomes for both players.
Seattle, of course, has more than enough time to work out a new contract with Witherspoon. He’s only in the fourth year of his rookie contract, and Seattle picked up his fifth-year option for the 2027 season. Whenever he signs, Witherspoon is likely to receive the richest contract in cornerback history. Getting that done sooner rather than later is certainly preferable for the Seahawks, and it would be advisable to work out a deal ahead of this coming campaign — even if it takes until later this summer to get it done.
