SEATTLE — The Seahawks entered the voluntary portion of their offseason program with key contract business still unsettled. Seattle made an initial offer to cornerback Devon Witherspoon several weeks ago, but the two sides do not appear close to a new deal, according to a league source. Witherspoon has two years remaining on his rookie contract.
Seattle completed a quick, drama-free extension with wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba in March, a four-year, $168.6 million deal that became the largest in franchise history. Some in league circles have wondered whether Witherspoon’s representation by WIN Sports Group — the same agency that represents Christian Gonzalez — has affected the pace of negotiations.
Witherspoon has been participating in the voluntary offseason program. Photo galleries on the team’s website have shown him smiling and taking part in workouts; none of Seattle’s practices or workouts have been open to reporters. He was among several veterans who arrived earlier than the team initially anticipated for Phase 1.
Three of Seattle’s remaining organized team activities will be open to reporters: May 26, June 3 and June 4. The mandatory minicamp, which also will be open to reporters, is scheduled for June 9-11.
Nolan Teasley, Seattle’s assistant general manager, is one of five candidates requested for an in-person second interview for the Minnesota Vikings’ general manager vacancy, according to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert. Teasley, a minority candidate, has been with the Seahawks since 2013 and rose from an intern to his current role. Per the NFL’s Rooney Rule, the Seahawks would receive third-round compensatory picks in each of the next two drafts if he is hired as another team’s primary decision-maker.
Coach Pete Carroll’s staff used a staggered start to the offseason program after last season’s extended run, encouraging veterans and heavily used young players to begin remotely. Head coach Mike Macdonald said he was pleasantly surprised when several veterans — including Witherspoon, outside linebacker Derick Hall and defensive tackle Jarran Reed — showed up for the start of Phase 1 on April 20. Almost every player on Seattle’s 91-man offseason roster has appeared multiple times in the team’s OTA photo galleries; outside linebacker DeMarcus Lawrence was an exception after his wife gave birth to the couple’s sixth child right after the Super Bowl. Macdonald reiterated at the league meetings in March that Lawrence was planning to play.
