Seattle is discussing a contract extension with cornerback Devon Witherspoon, but an agreement isn’t close. The Seahawks made an initial offer weeks ago, and the delay appears tied to agent market dynamics after similar situations involving New England’s Chris
The offseason work has looked routine in Seattle, but the business side of the cornerback position is anything but settled.
The Seahawks are in contract-extension talks with Devon Witherspoon, yet the two sides are not close to an agreement. Seattle made an initial offer several weeks ago, and so far Witherspoon hasn’t heard anything that matches what he’s looking for.
Witherspoon is not in a holding pattern as a player. He appears to be a happy camper during the voluntary offseason, even showing up earlier than the Seahawks asked veterans to be there. Still, the teams’ inability to land on terms fast enough is keeping the future off the record.
Seattle drafted Witherspoon out of Illinois with the fifth overall pick in 2023, and he’s backed that early investment with production and recognition. He has been selected to the Pro Bowl in all three of his NFL seasons.
From a compensation standpoint, the Seahawks aren’t walking into this negotiation with urgency from a deadline perspective. The team picked up Witherspoon’s fifth-year option for a guaranteed $21. 161. 000 salary in 2027. meaning he’ll be well-compensated for the next two years whether a new deal is signed or not. The real question is whether Seattle and Witherspoon can strike something that goes well beyond that window.
One factor shaping the timing may be how agents approach the market. Witherspoon has the same agents as another 2023 first-round cornerback. New England’s Christian Gonzalez. whose fifth-year option was recently picked up. The report suggests the shared representation could create a delay while the agents try to make sure they’re setting each cornerback’s market as high as they can—both for their clients.
In the meantime, Witherspoon’s availability and demeanor have offered a counterpoint to the stalled negotiations. Even with the extension not getting traction, the signs around voluntary workouts point to a player who’s comfortable in Seattle and focused on football.
The expectation now is that a deal eventually gets done. For all the lack of agreement right now, it seems likely the Seahawks and Witherspoon will work out terms that keep him in Seattle for many more years.
Seahawks Devon Witherspoon contract extension fifth-year option Pro Bowl Christian Gonzalez NFL offseason agent market