The Browns may have just made Devon Witherspoon more expensive for the Seahawks.
Seattle is still expected to work toward a contract extension with its versatile cornerback before the 2026 season begins, but Cleveland’s new deal for Denzel Ward could reset the conversation. On Tuesday, the Browns signed Ward to a two-year extension worth as much as $62.2 million over the next two seasons, according to NFL insider Adam Schefter, and that number could push Witherspoon’s camp to aim even higher.
That’s the ripple effect Seattle probably didn’t want. Witherspoon and Ward are both top-tier corners, but they bring different profiles to the table.
Ward is a five-time Pro Bowler. Witherspoon is a three-time Pro Bowler, though he has reached that mark in only three seasons.
Both are due for big paydays, but Ward’s contract now sets a fresh benchmark.
Before Ward’s extension, the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback was the Los Angeles Rams’ Trent McDuffie at $31 million per year. Ward’s deal edges past that, and Witherspoon’s next contract will likely have to climb above it as well. The question is how far Seattle is willing to go.
Witherspoon’s value to the Seahawks goes beyond what Gonzalez and Ward do on the outside. He’s more impactful in run support and can be used on rare blitzes, giving Seattle’s defense a layer of versatility that makes him more valuable in the Pacific Northwest.
He understands that, and so do his agents. The Seahawks know it too. And Witherspoon’s age only strengthens his case: he’s 25, while Ward is 29 and could be winding down by the time his extension runs its course.
The Browns may have overpaid Ward, and that could end up helping Witherspoon’s negotiating position. Seattle may not love it, but that doesn’t mean his next deal won’t reflect it.
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