Devon Witherspoon
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Spotrac projected Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon to be worth $82 million on a new 3-year contract.
The Seattle Seahawks have paved the way to sign cornerback Devon Witherspoon to a contract extension.
The team has done that by exercising Witherspoon’s fifth-year option. NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported Friday night the Seahawks made that decision.
However, a contract extension for Witherspoon is going to be costly.
Spotrac projected the cornerback’s open market value as $82.23 million on a 3-year contract. Such a deal would pay Witherspoon an average annual salary of $27.4 million.
That’s a sizable pay raise for the second-team All-Pro defensive back. In 2026, Witherspoon will have a base salary of just $1.145 million.
With the fifth-year club option next season, Witherspoon is set to make $21.16 million in 2027. But in a perfect world, the Seahawks will have him inked to an extension before that.
The Seahawks drafted Witherspoon at No. 5 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. He’s made the Pro Bowl in each of his first three NFL campaigns.
Last season was arguably his best, as he earned his first All-Pro nomination (second team). He registered 72 combined tackles with seven pass defenses and an interception in 12 games.
How Much Will Seahawks CB Devon Witherspoon Cost on Contract Extension?
With the club option keeping Witherspoon on the roster through 2027, the Seahawks have some time to agree to an extension with the cornerback.
Still, a new deal sooner rather than later might be better for the team.
The cost of new contracts just keeps going up in the NFL. If the Seahawks wait, it could be more expensive to sign Witherspoon next year.
The Los Angeles Rams acquired cornerback Trent McDuffie from the Kansas City Chiefs this offseason. The Rams then signed McDuffie to a 4-year, $124 million contract, making him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history.
McDuffie has yet to make the Pro Bowl, but he’s earned two All-Pro nominations.
With an average annual salary of $27.4 million, Witherspoon would sit fourth among cornerbacks in average yearly pay. An $82 million contract, though, would place the Seahawks cornerback at No. 11 at the position in total value.
Spotrac’s Witherspoon contract projection seems in line with the rest of the league. If the Seahawks wait until next offseason to sign Witherspoon, though, the projection will increase, maybe above $30 million, if the cornerback makes All-Pro again.
It’s also worth wondering if the Seattle cornerback will push for a fourth year included in his extension.
Derek Stingley Jr. is the only notable high-priced cornerback who agreed to a 3-year extension.
How Seahawks Manage Witherspoon & Jaxon Smith-Njigba Contracts
The Seahawks didn’t just land Witherspoon in the first round three years ago. Seattle also drafted wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba at No. 20 overall.
Rapoport also reported Friday the Seahawks exercised Smith-Njigba’s fifth-year option for 2027. The deadline to do so with both players was May 1.
That places the team in the same position with both stars. The Seahawks have time to sign both to extensions. But again, there could be urgency to ink both to new deals this summer.
Spotrac also projected Smith-Njigba to receive a 3-year deal and estimated his value at $113.19 million. That would pay the receiver $37.7 million per season, ranking him second at receiver behind only Ja’Marr Chase.
Smith-Njigba led the NFL with 1,793 receiving yards last season. He also had 119 receptions and 10 touchdowns.