The Seattle Seahawks reportedly extended a key piece of the team’s defense on Saturday. <\/p>\n
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter<\/a>, the Seahawks and Devon Witherspoon have agreed to terms on a four-year, $132 million extension that makes him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history. <\/p>\n Schefter added Witherspoon’s deal also includes more than $101 million in guaranteed money. <\/p>\n In addition to being the highest-paid cornerback by total value, Witherspoon’s $33 million average annual salary on his new contract surpasses Denzel Ward’s $31.1 million<\/a> per-year salary from the Cleveland Browns. <\/p>\n This marks the second time in five months the cornerback market has been reset. Trent McDuffie’s four-year, $124 million<\/a> extension with the Los Angeles Rams signed in March had been the high-water mark at the position. <\/p>\n McDuffie got $100 million in practical guarantees in the deal. <\/p>\n Seattle previously picked up<\/a> Witherspoon’s fifth-year option on March 20.<\/p>\n It’s easy to see why the Seahawks were focused on securing the 25-year-old’s long-term future following their Super Bowl LX victory, as he’s earned Pro Bowl selections in all three of his years in the league.<\/p>\n Still, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport<\/a> reported that the two sides did not appear to be close to an agreement on Aug. 8.<\/p>\n Discussions seemingly picked up again leading to a deal getting done weeks before the start of the 2026 regular season. <\/p>\n Witherspoon immediately showed why Seattle used the No. 5 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft to select him, amassing 79 tackles and three sacks to go along with 16 passes defended as a rookie. <\/p>\n The former Illinois standout finished No. 4 in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting<\/a>. <\/p>\n Witherspoon started all 17 regular-season games during his sophomore campaign in Seattle, with his 98 total tackles representing the second-most on the team. He also racked up nine passes defended, six tackles for loss and one sack.<\/p>\n While Witherspoon only appeared in 12 games due to knee issues<\/a> last season, he was still able to take another step forward. He earned Second Team All-Pro recognition<\/a> for the first time in his career. <\/p>\n Witherspoon tallied 72 tackles, seven passes defended, four quarterback hits and two tackles for loss in 2025.<\/p>\n He continued to stand out in a Seattle secondary that ranked<\/a> No. 10 among all teams in pass defense during the regular season. The Seahawks were also able to make their championship run by boasting<\/a> the NFL’s top scoring defense, giving up just 17.2 points per game.<\/p>\n During Seattle’s playoff run that culminated in a 29-13 Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots, Witherspoon finished with 17 tackles and four passes defended in three postseason games.<\/p>\n