Lefko: Seahawks’ top extension priority shouldn’t be Witherspoon

While attention is fixed on the Seahawks' contract negotiations with cornerback Devon Witherspoon, Mike Lefko thinks it's more important that another defensive star is locked down.

BY MIKE LEFKO

Jul 23, 2026, 12:20 PM

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Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is one of the most impactful playmakers in the NFL.

I feel that has to be stated here, just so people don’t get a crazy notion that this article is calling for the Seahawks to not sign him to an extension. He’s also under contract for one more season, and while the lack of an extension has drawn considerable attention, the Seahawks have done all they can do at this point and have the leverage of getting him for a better value in 2027 if the two sides don’t agree on a deal.

So, while the Witherspoon contract is mired in a waiting game, there is one player who the Seahawks should try to sign to a contract extension as soon as possible.

Insider: Seahawks, Devon Witherspoon in ‘intense negotiations’

First, let’s catch you up on some important history. My timing has been terrific when it comes to contracts in the past. Less than a week after I ruminated about Jimmy Garappolo as a potential Seahawks quarterback option – during a less-than-inspired QB battle before the 2022 season – he proceeded to restructure his contract to stay with the 49ers. And not even 12 hours elapsed after I broke down the likely option of the Seahawks waiting until after the 49ers’ Super Bowl appearance to hire an OC from San Francisco’s staff that the infamous Ryan Grubb sighting and subsequent hire happened (although you might want to check out one of the names that came up in my article about the OC vacancy from 2024).

With all that in mind, expect a Witherspoon contract extension to be done before the weekend is over. However, I feel like a different defensive player should be the priority when it comes to signing an extension in order to maintain continuity and ensure the Super Bowl window remains open as long as possible in Seattle.

Lock up Leonard Williams

The Seahawks’ Leonard Williams is the best defensive tackle in the NFL. You don’t even have to take my word for it; the league has dubbed it to be true. He’s also going into the final year of his contract at a time when the Seahawks are about to encounter uncertainty when it comes to a handful of guys up front.

Jarran Reed, who will turn 34 at the end of this calendar year, is under contract through 2027. And after that you’re looking at Byron Murphy and Rylie Mills as the only ones left on the interior.

We’ve seen the importance of what controlling the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball does for a team and Williams is the perfect embodiment of a game wrecking player in the middle of the line does for everyone around him. He also has been irreplaceable, literally. Williams played in 18 regular season games in 2023, 16 games in 2024, and all 20 games this past season. He possesses a rare combination of elite skill and durability that 31 other GMs would covet if Williams does hit free agency after this season.

This also doesn’t have to be a market-setting extension the likes of what JSN, Witherspoon will command. Williams just turned 32 and the annual average value of his current contract is slightly over $21 million per year. A nice bump into the low $30 million range for two years would be a nice way to bridge the gap for the future of the defensive line, while maximizing the opportunity for the Seahawks to win multiple Super Bowls over the next few seasons.