The Seattle Seahawks are one win away from the Super Bowl, and while their offense has its fair share of playmakers - Sam Darnold managing the offense, Kenneth Walker bringing the power run game, Rashid Shaheed stretching the field, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba emerging as a dynamic weapon - it’s the defense that’s driving this playoff run. And at the heart of that unit is third-year cornerback Devon Witherspoon, who continues to prove why he’s one of the most complete defensive backs in the game.
Witherspoon, a three-time Pro Bowler already, has become the kind of player offenses have to scheme around. He’s physical, instinctive, and versatile - a true shutdown corner who can also blitz, tackle in space, and disrupt passing lanes. The Seahawks knew they had something special when they took him in the 2023 NFL Draft, and now, the rest of the league knows it too.
He’s still on his rookie deal, with another year left and a club option for 2027. But with the way he’s playing, it’s not a matter of if Seattle will extend him - it’s when. And the numbers are starting to come into focus.
According to Spotrac’s market value projections, Witherspoon could command a three-year extension worth $69 million - that’s around $23.2 million per year. For context, that’s a hefty figure, but not out of line with what elite cornerbacks are earning in today’s market.
It’s less than Trent McDuffie’s projected $111 million deal, but McDuffie’s projection is over four years. Witherspoon’s projection is shorter in length but still places him firmly in the upper echelon of NFL corners.
And he’s earned every bit of it. Through his NFL career so far, Witherspoon has racked up 249 combined tackles, 32 passes defended, 4.5 sacks, and a pair of interceptions.
He’s allowed a passer rating of 95.8 when targeted - a solid number considering he often draws the toughest assignments on the field. But stats only tell part of the story.
Watch the tape, and you’ll see a player who brings energy, intelligence, and attitude to every snap. He’s the kind of defender who sets the tone for a unit - and that’s exactly what he’s done for Seattle.
The Seahawks have a long history of building around defensive stars - think Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, Earl Thomas - and Witherspoon is carrying that torch into the next era. He plays with that same edge, that same fearlessness, and he’s only getting better.
General manager John Schneider has never been shy about locking up cornerstone players early, and Witherspoon fits that mold to a tee. If Seattle wants to keep its defensive identity intact and stay competitive in a loaded NFC, getting a deal done sooner rather than later makes all the sense in the world.
A three-year, $69 million extension would keep Witherspoon in Seattle through his prime, giving the Seahawks a foundational piece in the secondary as they continue to chase championships. And based on everything we’ve seen from him so far - the production, the poise, the presence - it’s hard to argue he hasn’t earned it.