Seattle Seahawks’ Devon Witherspoon Becomes Highest-Paid Cornerback

The business of NFL contracts often sees top players breaking records with eye-catching deals. Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon is the latest example. On Saturday, he signed a four-year contract that positions him as the league’s highest-paid cornerback.

According to a source, Witherspoon’s contract is valued at $132 million, with over $101 million guaranteed. This agreement not only makes him the highest-paid cornerback currently but also the highest-paid at this position in NFL history.

High Earnings in Context

Witherspoon’s deal averages $33 million per season, surpassing the $31 million average Denzel Ward received from the Cleveland Browns just last month. The financial implications of this deal are significant. It compensates Witherspoon more than many offensive players, such as Aaron Rodgers, whose contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers averages $22 million annually, and Kirk Cousins from the Las Vegas Raiders, who earns $11.3 million per year.

While Witherspoon’s average salary does not exceed Baker Mayfield’s $33.3 million from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, his total guarantees of $101 million are more than double Mayfield’s $50 million.

Comparable Quarterback Contracts

The comparison extends to quarterback figures as well. Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold inked a deal averaging $33.5 million per season with $55 million guaranteed last season. Witherspoon’s guarantees vastly outperform this figure.

Implications for Future Contracts

Witherspoon’s deal is a clear indication of the thriving NFL business landscape, signaling that larger contracts are likely forthcoming. One major negotiation underway involves New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez.

Gonzalez and the Patriots have been in contract discussions for months, with team owner Robert Kraft expressing intentions to make Gonzalez the highest-paid cornerback. Ultimately, Witherspoon secured his record deal first.

As a result, Gonzalez is now poised to seek an even larger contract, reflecting the trend that elite NFL contracts continually set new benchmarks.