Devon Witherspoon’s absence from the NFL’s Top 100 list looks bad on paper, but the number attached to it tells only part of the story.
The Seattle Seahawks still haven’t handed him an extension, yet that hasn’t slowed the case for Witherspoon as the league’s highest-paid cornerback. Pro Football Focus backed up that argument in a big way last season, giving him an 89.9 grade that led all 114 eligible players. He also finished second in run defense at 86.7, second in coverage at 84.6, and third in pass-rush grade at 91.8.
And still, he landed at No. 107 in the league’s Top 100 voting, just outside the cut. That kind of result feels like a slap until you dig into how the list is made, because the process is not exactly a precision instrument.
Two years ago, GQ Sports spoke with NFL Films producers Erin O’Toole and Kaley Campen about how the voting works, and the explanation stripped away any illusion of hard science. The league doesn’t use stats. It uses a weighted ballot, and not even every player votes.
“We actually physically walk around the entire locker room,” Campen explains. “We hit every position group, and it's a mix. Some guys are heavier on their teammates, some guys might be heavier on their position, and some guys are really fair across the league, every position.”
The ballots are handed out during the previous season, sometime between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. Players are asked to rank their top 20, with a first-place vote worth 20 points, a second-place vote worth 19, and so on. Then the ballot, and a Sharpie, go back to the producers.
“We hand them the ballot, we hand them the Sharpie, they get to do it themselves and hand it right back to us,” Campen says. “A lot of these guys have seen our faces year after year. They'll see us and right away be like, ‘It's top 100 time of year again.’”
That helps explain why a player like Witherspoon can be as dominant as the tape says and still miss out. This isn’t a pure merit list. It’s a popularity contest with a ballot attached, and that can leave out players who are clearly among the best in the league.
“Sometimes a guy from the AFC West doesn't really have any thoughts on Jalen Hurts,” Campen remarks. “But someone from the NFC East sure does!”
So yes, Seahawks fans had plenty of reason to be irritated by the snub. But the bigger point is that the list doesn’t carry much weight in the first place. It’s offseason content, not a serious measure of value.
Witherspoon, though, has bigger things on his mind. He and Christian Gonzalez are both in that awkward stretch where a new deal feels inevitable, and both are expected to reset the cornerback market in the near future.
He’s already a Super Bowl champion before his rookie contract has even expired. He’s been a Pro Bowler in every season, and he just picked up second-team All-Pro honors. That’s a lot more meaningful than landing at No. 107 on a list that even the voting process can’t fully defend.
By the time 2027 rolls around, Witherspoon will almost certainly be back on the Top 100. Until then, he’ll probably care a lot more about the Super Bowl ring and the generational wealth waiting down the road.
In Other News...
Grey Zabel Is Giving Seahawks Fans A Bigger O-Line Question
Grey Zabel has quickly become one of the more encouraging developments for Seattles offensive line after John Schneider used a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on the North Dakota State product. Zabel came into the league after playing tackle in college, then moved inside to guard or center, and the early returns have helped stabilize a unit Seattle has been trying to upgrade for years. Around the league, evaluators have generally treated him as an above-average young guard, with NFL.com among the outlets taking a positive view of what he can become.
The bigger question now is less about whether Zabel belongs and more about where his ceiling really sits. Some observers like the way he has already translated from college tackle to the interior, while others see room for more growth before he fully defines the Seahawks front. For a team still searching for long-term answers up front, Zabels progress is useful on its own, but it also puts a spotlight on just how much more help Seattle may need around him. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Face An Immediate 2026 Test Fans Will Be Watching
The 2026 NFL season will open on Wednesday, Sept. 9, and it comes with a familiar spotlight for New England right away, as the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks welcome the Patriots for a rematch of the title game. The league is setting up an unusually early start because of the Thursday game in Australia the next day, and Week 1 will stretch across four days with a full slate of 16 games.
For Seattle, the opener is as much about ceremony as it is about the challenge of beginning a title defense against the team it just beat on the biggest stage. For the Patriots, it is an immediate chance to see where they stand against the leagues standard-bearer, with the rest of the opening week also carrying extra intrigue as the Rams and 49ers head to Melbourne for the NFLs international showcase. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Fans Have One Big Reason Not To Fear Aaron Donald
Aaron Donalds name still carries enough weight to change the conversation for any team in the NFC West, and the reported workout with the Rams is another reminder of why. If he does come back for the 2026 season, Los Angeles would be adding a defensive centerpiece to a group that already has big ambitions, with the possibility of pairing him with Myles Garrett and putting even more pressure on opposing offenses.
For Seattle, though, the bigger takeaway is the broader timeline. The Rams have leaned toward star-driven roster building, while the Seahawks have been shaping their future around a different mix of age, development and front office philosophy. Donalds return would certainly matter in the division, but it does not change the fact that Seattles long-term outlook is still built on a more stable foundation than the one that has defined Los Angeles in recent years. [Read more 🡒]