Seahawks and Cornerback Devon Witherspoon Agree to 4-Year Contract Extension
By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA - After months of discussion and trading offers, the Seattle Seahawks have signed cornerback Devon Witherspoon to a four-year, $132 million contract extension, as first announced by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
“I don’t think there’s a player on the team he (Mike Macdonald) loves more than Spoon.”
The three-time Pro Bowler, coming off a Super Bowl championship with the team just six months ago, gets a contract that includes more than $101 million in guaranteed money, which will make “Lil Spoon” the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history. Witherspoon was already under contract through the 2027 season, so this deal will keep him with the Seahawks through the 2031 season.
Once the Seahawks had locked up wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba on a deal that made him the highest-paid wideout back in the month of March, Seattle turned their attention to signing Witherspoon to a long-term deal. A potential hurdle for John Schneider and the Seahawks was Christian Gonzalez, a New England Patriots star cornerback who was also awaiting a top-of-the-market extension.
Some thought things would run longer to see who would get a deal done first, and Witherspoon officially got a deal announced the morning of Seattle’s first preseason game. It comes after Witherspoon had continued to practice throughout the offseason and into the team’s training camp without the deal in place, and his ability to keep the business side separate from team activities impressed his head coach, Mike Macdonald.
“To be able to take whatever’s going on in that front and compartmentalize that shows you his maturity and his commitment to the team.”
His average of $33 million a year pushes him past Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward and former University of Washington star Trent McDuffie, who signed a deal with the Los Angeles Rams after being acquired in a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs. The contract also includes a $26 million signing bonus, with the first two seasons guaranteeing $59.255 million.
During last week’s episode of “Hard Knocks,” the season premiere episode, Witherspoon stated that he wasn’t worried about the contract talks taking place, shifting his focus to preparation for the regular season ahead as the Seahawks look to defend their title.
The 25-year-old defensive back made the Pro Bowl on the initial ballot in each of his first three seasons in the NFL. Witherspoon has been one of the physical and emotional tone-setters for Seattle's defense, a group that allowed the fewest points in 2025 before leading the Seahawks to a 29-13 win over the Patriots in Super Bowl LX. Devon had one of the more infamous plays during that victory in Santa Clara, recording a hit on Patriots quarterback Drake Maye that led to a pick-six by teammate Uchenna Nwosu, in addition to registering a sack.
Witherspoon came to Seattle via the Seahawks’ trade with the Denver Broncos, the Russell Wilson deal. The blockbuster deal landed Seattle the fifth overall selection in the 2023 draft, where they selected Witherspoon and later on took Smth-Njigba at 20th overall to acquire two stars in the same round.
The Illinois alum is on a strong path already early into his career, becoming the fourth player in team history to be named to the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons. He was named to the franchise’s 50 greatest players of all time list last year as Seattle celebrated its 50th season anniversary. Last year, Witherspoon was named to the AP All-Pro second team.
“He’s part of the engine that makes the whole thing go. He’s probably the sparkplug behind the whole thing.”
Witherspoon’s value goes beyond just the basic stats you can find on ESPN or that some casual fans know best. He’s totaled 72 tackles, seven passes defended, two tackles for loss and an interception in 2025, racking up 249 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and 32 passes defensed in 43 career games. Those are fine and dandy, and those who only look at those stats will try to disparage Witherspoon, but his impact for Seattle goes beyond those numbers. It’s the big hits he lays on opposing offensive players, the explosive physicality he possesses as a cornerback, his selfless demeanor, and the ever-churning motor he holds within himself.
“Devon Witherspoon … he’s a rare player. We’ve been through this draft (process) since the years we’ve been here. We haven’t seen a guy like this. We have not drafted corners high, just because we haven’t come across a guy of this makeup. It’s really his athletic ability. It’s his speed. It’s his playmaking. It’s his mentality. I haven’t come across a guy like this in a long time.”
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Photo in cover by Saskia Potter/Seattle Seahawks
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