The Seattle Seahawks and cornerback Devon Witherspoon have reportedly agreed to a new extension for four years and as much as $132 million. That will make the cornerback the highest-paid cornerback in the history of the NFL.
ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that $101 million of the deal is guaranteed. That is obviously a lot of cash, but in professional football terms, Witherspoon has earned every penny. He is a three-time Pro Bowler who might not have even played his best yet.
But with Witherspoon extended through, once can assume, 2031 (the cornerback was signed through 2026 and had his fifth-year option exercised for 2027), what should general manager John Schneider do next? The options are numerous.
Three moves the Seattle Seahawks should make now that Devon Witherspoon is extended
Seahawks should extend Leonard Williams
Williams is 32 years old and signed through 2026, so he might not be playing for many more years, but he has stayed healthy throughout his career, only missing more than one game once in his 11 seasons. Williams isn't just the Seahawks' best defensive lineman, but arguably the best in the NFL.
His representation and the Seattle Seahawks have been in talks about a potential extension, but Williams also likely assumes that his next deal will be his last. That means he has one last chance to get paid a lot of money.
Hopefully, Seattle will extend Williams for two more seasons, likely with no guaranteed money in year two, as is John Schneider's normal way of doing business. Even three years would make sense in that same structure. As 12s know, Williams would be worth the new deal.
Seahawks should extend Drew Lock
A relative minor move, but an important one. Sam Darnold will hopefully continue his two-year trend of being a very good quarterback and sign an extension next year. He is currently signed through 2027. If his goodness continues, he needs a long-term backup, and Lock is the obvious answer.
Lock and Darnold have been friends for quite some time, and that connection is key to having a backup who understands he doesn't have a path to QB1 as long as the starter is healthy. Lock and his family are also happy in the Pacific Northwest, as he has stated several times to reporters.
Another part that is important is that Lock left Seattle once before when he signed with the New York Giants in 2024. He chose to come back to the Seahawks even knowing he wouldn't start. He likely would stay for that same reason, so extending him for two or three seasons (he is signed through 2026) would make sense.
Seahawks should trade for Maxx Crosby
The money paid to Witherspoon has nothing to do with this possible scenario, but clearly Seattle is ready to keep going all-in on hopefully winning championships. While John Schneider would feel no need to match the Los Angeles Rams' deal for Myles Garrett this year, and LA could have Aaron Donald come out of retirement, the Seahawks might still need to do something.
Schneider has a lot of draft capital in 2027 to offer the Las Vegas Raiders for the services of the elite edge rusher. Vegas also has a positive working relationship with Seattle, as the two teams have had a lot of player exchanges in the last two years, as well as former Seattle coaches being hired by the Raiders. That natural chemistry could help a trade unfold.
Seattle isn't going to give Las Vegas two first-round choices, though. Maybe no team will after the Baltimore Ravens decided not to make a move for Crosby this past offseason because of Crosby's offseason knee surgery. Schneider could give the Raiders a first-round choice and maybe a high-round choice in 2028.
Seattle does have a good rotation of edge rushers, but only Derick Hall is young. DeMarcus Lawrence and Dante Fowler Jr. are well past 30 years old, and Lawrence has already said 2026 will be his final season. Adding Crosby helps in case one of the older players gets injured this season and would help shape the defense for several years after, too.
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