Many thought Witherspoon's extension would follow soon after Smith-Njigba's, but things aren't progressing in the way people had hoped.
The offseason is usually when players and the front office get down to the details of contract extensions, and the Seattle Seahawks have done just that.
After signing Jaxon Smith-Njigba to a monster four-year, $168.6 million deal, it was then defender Derick Hall who was next in line, putting pen to paper on a three-year, $42 million deal.
Two good pieces of business for general manager John Schneider.
But one is missing here, and that's corner Devon Witherspoon.
The Seahawks picked up his fifth-year option, seemingly as an insurance policy, but many believed that after JSN's deal was agreed to, it would be Witherspoon next to cash it.
But now we are post-OTAs and minicamp, and nothing has been forthcoming for the three-time Pro Bowler.
For some, that could be seen as concerning, for others, it is just part of NFL football, and there isn't much worry that a deal won't get done between the two sides.
And ESPN's Brady Henderson has given an update on where things stand on Devon's proposed extension.
"After the Seahawks finalized an extension with wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba in March -- one that got done with relative ease and no hint of drama -- they immediately turned their attention to a new deal for Witherspoon," Henderson wrote.
"Those negotiations haven't gone as smoothly, with no deal yet despite the fact that Seattle made its initial offer three months ago. All signs have pointed to Witherspoon becoming the league's highest-paid corner when his extension is completed. For now, he's set to make $5.1 million in 2026, then $21.2 million on his fifth-year option in '27."
Exactly where Witherspoon wants to land on the highest-paid list could be what is holding things up.
Per Over The Cap, Trent McDuffie is the highest-paid corner in football ($31 APY), with two others in Ahmad Gardner and Derek Stingley Jr. both earning $30 million APY.
So I would imagine that Witherspoon is going to potentially leapfrog those three mentioned and become the highest-paid corner in the NFL.
McDuffie's total value of his contract is $124 million, with $50 million fully guaranteed, so it is easy to envision Devon's deal starting there.
After Smith-Njigba became the highest-paid receiver in football, Witherspoon appears to be next in line to be the top earner at his position.
But right now, there appears to be little movement on an extension. Make of that what you will.
