The Seattle Seahawks have made a strategic move by exercising the fifth-year options for cornerback Devon Witherspoon and receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, ensuring these rising stars remain with the team through the 2027 season.
Both Witherspoon and Smith-Njigba were key first-round picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, with Witherspoon going fifth overall and Smith-Njigba at 20th. This option is exclusive to first-round selections, offering a valuable extra year for teams to retain top talent.
Witherspoon, a standout with three Pro Bowl appearances, is set for a fully guaranteed salary of $21.1 million in 2027. Meanwhile, Smith-Njigba, who has one Pro Bowl nod, is projected to earn about $23.8 million, according to Over the Cap.
Their performances have been nothing short of spectacular. Witherspoon earned second-team All-Pro honors, while Smith-Njigba was a unanimous first-team All-Pro in 2025, a season that culminated in the Seahawks' triumphant Super Bowl 60 victory. The franchise is already eyeing contract extensions to keep these pivotal players in Seattle for the long haul.
In a testament to his impact, Witherspoon was named one of the franchise’s 50 greatest players before the 2025 season. Smith-Njigba, on the other hand, dominated the league with a receiving title, amassing 1,793 yards, and became Seattle’s first first-team All-Pro receiver since Steve Largent in 1985. His remarkable season also saw him become the second player in Seahawks history to win the AP Offensive Player of the Year, following in the footsteps of Shaun Alexander.
The fifth-year option, part of the 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement, has been a rare move for Seattle, previously exercised only for left tackle Charles Cross, the ninth pick in 2022. Cross later secured a four-year, $104.4 million extension, signaling the team's commitment to building around their drafted talent.
With Witherspoon and Smith-Njigba locked in, the Seahawks are well-positioned to continue their competitive edge in the coming seasons.