It's easy to miss the business aspect of the NFL, especially in the heat of training camp buzz. But the decisions made behind closed doors by agents and general managers often determine the success or failure of franchises.
The Seattle Seahawks have a major roster decision hanging over their heads with superstar cornerback Devon Witherspoon eligible for a contract extension. The versatile defender was a key piece in Seattle's Super Bowl run and should earn a big payday in the coming months.
Just how big that payday is could be determined by a factor that is flying under the radar. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated pointed out that Witherspoon and Christian Gonzalez, another cornerback expected to reset the market, have the same agent. While that may seem like a minor detail, it could determine how much the Seahawks end up paying Witherspoon.
Devon Witherspoon's Seattle Seahawks contract extension is tied to Christian Gonzalez
Get to know Reggie Johnson. According to Breer, "He is the agent to both the Seahawks’ Devon Witherspoon and the Patriots’ Christian Gonzalez, giving each of those guys a bit of a leg up in their negotiations with their teams—if you consider information to be power (and it is)."
Johnson will simultaneously negotiate the two biggest cornerback contracts in NFL history. This puts the Seahawks in a bidding war to make their star defender the league's highest-paid cornerback without breaking the bank in the process.
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Trent McDuffie reset the market this offseason by signing a four-year deal worth $31 million per year. Sauce Gardner and Derek Stingley Jr. have recently signed in a similar range.
Whoever signs next between Witherspoon and Gonzalez will likely reset the market again. The other will then want to beat that deal. If the two cornerbacks had different agents, the state of their negotiations would stay within their individual buildings. Now, Johnson will be able to leverage the expected price of each defender in negotiations for the other.
The unique situation could end up driving up the price of both players. Developments in the cornerback market have already raised Witherspoon's likely price this offseason. It may only grow in the coming months.
To be clear, there's no need to worry about whether an extension will get done. Barring an unforeseen twist, Witherspoon will sign a long-term extension with the Seahawks. There may be delays, especially after the sale of the team, but it will happen eventually. The price tag, though, could be higher than expected.
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