Unlike other first-round draft picks from 2023, Devon Witherspoon not only showed up to Seattle Seahawks training camp but participated in drills. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs of the Detroit Lions and Bijan Robinson of the Atlanta Falcons chose not to practice. The difference is that Seattle has an elite culture, and the other teams don't.
Making the playoffs and winning titles takes talented players, of course, but it also takes more. Gibbs and Robinson are good players, too, and Gibbs' Lions have a lot of talent overall. They haven't sniffed a Super Bowl victory yet.
Witherspoon practicing and not creating drama for his team is further evidence that the way Seattle has been built includes creating an atmosphere where players understand how the business of football works while also feeling valuable. A sturdy culture and locker room can turn into an extra win or two. Happy players are often productive ones.
Devon Witherspoon's appearance at training camp proves how special the Seattle Seahawks are
Of course, getting paid lots of money can help people be happy as well, but not always. Just ask the San Francisco 49ers about their current and ongoing situation with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. The team gave the player an extension, and he still wasn't (and isn't) satisfied.
Instead, Seattle has a culture where each player knows they are part of the overall success of the squad, and not above it. Is Devon Witherspoon one of the best players at his position in the NFL? Obviously, but Seattle can still win games without him. He just makes the whole better, and hopefully he will continue to do so for a very long time.
Witherspoon wants an extension before 2026, most likely, though with his fifth-year option, he is under team control through 2027. The Seattle Seahawks aren't going to wait another year or two without giving the cornerback a new deal, however. General manager John Schneider has already extended edge rusher Derick Hall and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba this offseason.
Witherspoon or defensive lineman Leonard Williams could be next. Both have been brilliant for the last few seasons in the Pacific Northwest. The difference is that Williams is 32 years old and would likely sign a shorter deal. Witherspoon is 25 years old, and his extension will probably become record-setting on an annual basis for a cornerback.
That number is currently held by the Cleveland Browns' Denzel Ward, who recently signed a new deal that pays him $31.1 million a season. Witherspoon's deal could exceed $32 million annually. That is an extraordinary amount, but also reflects the growing rate for a high-end cornerback, which is clearly what Witherspoon is.
The corner also probably knows a deal will be done soon, but either way, he is ready to keep helping the Seahawks win games. He isn't holding in like Gibbs and Robinson. Instead, Witherspoon is ready to play football now.
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