Report: Seahawks make Devon Witherspoon NFL’s highest-paid CB

The Seattle Seahawks and three-time Pro Bowler Devon Witherspoon have agreed to a record-setting four-year, $132 million contract extension that makes him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history, according to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Saturday morning.

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Witherspoon’s new deal averages $33 million per year and reportedly includes more than $101 million in guaranteed money.

Witherspoon, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, had two years left on his rookie deal after Seattle exercised the fifth-year option on his contract in March. He’s now under contract with the Seahawks through 2031, ensuring that one of the franchise’s most talented and impactful players remains in the Pacific Northwest for the long haul.

“It’s a win-win,” Seattle general manager John Schneider told Seahawks Radio Network play-by-play voice Steve Raible prior to Saturday’s preseason opener. “It’s a great deal for Spoon. It’s a great deal for the organization.

“He’s such a great guy, such a high-end competitor,” he added. “Obviously, the instincts, the anticipation, but just the juice he brings and the way he treats everybody in the building, he’s just a special, special person.”

By average annual value, Witherspoon surpassed Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward ($31.1 million), who signed a two-year, $62.2 million deal last month. After that, the next-highest-paid cornerbacks are the Los Angeles Rams’ Trent McDuffie ($31 million), the Indianapolis Colts’ Sauce Gardner ($30.1 million) and the Houston Texans’ Derek Stingley Jr. ($30 million).

Witherspoon joins star wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba as the second first-round pick from Seattle’s 2023 draft class to strike a massive deal with the franchise this offseason. Smith-Njigba, the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year, signed a four-year, $168.6 million extension in March that made him the highest-paid wide receiver in league history.

While Smith-Njigba’s deal came together quickly, Witherspoon’s negotiations stretched on much longer. One possible factor was New England Patriots star cornerback Christian Gonzalez – a fellow 2023 first-round pick who is represented by the same agency as Witherspoon – simultaneously seeking a top-of-the-market extension.

Despite the contract talks dragging on, Witherspoon still participated in Seattle’s offseason program and has been a full participant in training camp, all while reportedly displaying his usual energy and enthusiasm.

“He’s just infectious, and he loves the game,” Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said after Saturday’s preseason opener. “… He kind of keeps the main thing the main thing without getting distracted by all the extra stuff. He’s also a great teammate. He just wants to be there for the guys, and how our team plays is important to him, which is really cool.”

Witherspoon was a second-team All-Pro in 2025 and has been a Pro Bowler in all three seasons since the Seahawks drafted him out of Illinois.

With an impressive level of versatility, Witherspoon has showcased his wide-ranging skill set while filling up the stat sheet and making plays all over the field at outside corner, the nickel corner spot and around the line of scrimmage.

Over the past three seasons, Witherspoon totaled two interceptions, 32 pass breakups, 4.5 sacks, 16 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. During that span, he was one of just four NFL players with at least 30 pass breakups, three sacks and 15 tackles for loss, according to Stathead.

Witherspoon was Pro Football Focus‘ top-graded cornerback during the 2025 regular season. He totaled an interception, seven pass breakups, 0.5 sacks and two tackles for loss in 12 regular-season games last year, while serving as a key cog in Seattle’s top-ranked scoring defense.

Witherspoon then added four pass breakups in three postseason games, along with a sack and three QB hits in the Seahawks’ Super Bowl triumph over New England. He provided one of the Super Bowl’s biggest highlights, delivering a punishing fourth-quarter QB hit that resulted in Uchenna Nwosu’s game-sealing 45-yard pick-six.

“Spoon is all the things – he’s a great person, he’s a great football player, he’s a great teammate, he’s a great leader,” Macdonald said. “Those are the guys we want to be here. It’s similar to Jax. These are foundational people to our team, and I’m extremely excited to get that foundation laid where we know Spoon is going to be here for the long haul.”

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