Devon Witherspoon contract: Seahawks star becomes NFL's highest-paid CB, raises bar for Christian Gonzalez
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- Devon Witherspoon signed a four-year, $132 million extension with the Seattle Seahawks that includes $101 million guaranteed, per ESPN
- The Seahawks locked up Witherspoon at a $33 million annual average, surpassing the $31.1 million per year Denzel Ward secured with the Cleveland Browns last month
- Christian Gonzalez and the New England Patriots were also bidding to reset the cornerback market, but Seattle beat them to the punch — forcing New England to raise its offer
- Gonzalez has not practiced with the Patriots, with head coach Mike Vrabel citing an injury
- Witherspoon was the No. 5 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Illinois and is just the third defensive back in the last 40 years to make the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons, joining Charles Woodson and Patrick Peterson
- Witherspoon recorded 72 tackles, half a sack, seven passes defended, and one interception as the Seahawks won Super Bowl LX
Why it matters: Witherspoon's $33 million-per-year deal resets the cornerback market by nearly $2 million annually over the prior benchmark, and the Patriots now face direct pressure to top it for Gonzalez — who has yet to practice this offseason due to injury.
Ask SkimNews
