Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon won't have to worry about starting the 2026 season without a long-term contract.
Witherspoon, the No. 5 overall pick from the 2023 NFL Draft, has been a Pro Bowler every season since joining the Seahawks. he played a pivotal role in their run to the Super Bowl last year, racking up 72 tackles, seven pass break-ups and an interception.
Even though Witherspoon has been lobbying for a new contract all offseason, he never thought about holding out.
"We got a long season ahead of us, contract or not," Witherspoon said. "We still got to play football at the end of the day. We have to be out there and be prepared. If you’re not practicing, you’re not getting ready for the season because everybody else in the league is practicing and they’re getting better. That’s where my mind is at right now. I’m focused on what I need to do right now, I’m not really worried about anything else."
Well, Witherspoon's hard work has just been rewarded.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Seahawks are giving Witherspoon a four-year, $132 million extension. His deal, which includes over $101 million guaranteed, will make him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history.
© Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images.
This could change the cornerback market.
Now that Witherspoon has landed a $132 million deal from the Seahawks, all the pressure shifts over to the New England Patriots.
While there's no doubt the Patriots want to keep Christian Gonzalez around for the long haul, they haven't been able to strike a long-term agreement.
We'll see if Witherspoon's contract makes negotiations a bit more complicated for Gonzalez and the Patriots.
