Seattle extended cornerback Devon Witherspoon for four years and $132 million, and he remains under contract for six seasons at a total cost of about $158.3 million, with a new-money average of $33 million that resets the market at his position. The timing of the deal and his performance in Super Bowl LX have raised questions about whether coach Mike Macdonald will deploy him more often as a blitzer.
Witherspoon’s game is built on instincts, anticipation and a relentless motor rather than the pure ball skills of some peers. Teammate Leonard Williams said Witherspoon “plays in the trenches like he’s a big guy,” and praised his violent style. That physicality and his ability to rush from the slot played a key role in Seattle’s defensive game plan in the title game.
Macdonald praised Witherspoon’s commitment, noting he practiced through spring and summer despite the unsettled contract situation. Witherspoon has made the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons and was a second-team All-Pro in 2025. He has two career interceptions, one of them a pick-six, and according to ESPN Research his 36 passes defended are tied for 10th among cornerbacks with at least 1,000 defensive plays in coverage since 2023, including playoffs.
In the Super Bowl, Macdonald sent Witherspoon on six blitzes against Drake Maye, producing three pressures, one sack and a hit that helped set up Uchenna Nwosu’s interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Those six pass-rush snaps were tied for the most of any game in his career. Seattle’s 29-13 victory also featured running back Kenneth Walker III’s 161 scrimmage yards; the narrative in the aftermath noted Witherspoon could have been in MVP consideration if not for Walker’s performance.
The question for Seattle is whether Witherspoon’s role will expand now that he has been paid. His ability to impact games as a blitzer clearly influenced the contract, but whether Macdonald will consistently turn him loose in that capacity remains to be seen.
