There is once again a new highest-paid cornerback in the NFL, as Devon Witherspoon and the Seahawks have agreed to a four-year, $132 million contract extension. The deal includes $101 million in guaranteed money and will pay him an average of $33 million per year—the most in league history.
Earlier this offseason, Trent McDuffie took the title of the league’s highest-paid cornerback when he and the Rams agreed to a four-year pact worth $124 million ($31 million APY). After that, it was Browns defender Denzel Ward, who inked a two-year, $62.2 million extension at an APY of $31.1 million.
Witherspoon, 25, was selected by Seattle with the No. 4 pick in the 2023 draft and has since been named to three consecutive Pro Bowls, earned second-team All-Pro honors in ’25 and helped the Seahawks win Super Bowl LX last season. Now? He holds the title of highest-paid cornerback in the NFL ...
... At least for the time being. In all likelihood, fellow 2023 draftmate Christian Gonzalez will be next up for a contract extension, and if Patriots owner Robert Kraft’s words are true, it’s only a matter of time until the market is reset once again.
NFL’s highest-paid cornerbacks after Devon Witherspoon extension
| Player | Team | Contract APY | Total Contract Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Devon Witherspoon | Seattle Seahawks | $33 million | $132 million |
| Denzel Ward | Cleveland Browns | $31.1 million | $62.2 million |
| Trent McDuffie | Los Angeles Rams | $31 million | $124 million |
| Sauce Gardner | Indianapolis Colts | $30.1 million | $120.4 million |
| Derek Stingley Jr. | Houston Texans | $30 million | $90 million |
| Jaycee Horn | Carolina Panthers | $25 million | $100 million |
| Jalen Ramsey | Pittsburgh Steelers | $24.1 million | $72.3 million |
| Patrick Surtain II | Denver Broncos | $24 million | $96 million |
| DaRon Bland | Dallas Cowboys | $22.5 million | $90 million |
| A.J. Terrell | Atlanta Falcons | $20.25 million | $81 milion |
Prior to McDuffie’s new deal this offseason, fellow 2022 draft class defensive backs Sauce Gardner and Derek Stingley Jr. were the highest-paid cornerbacks in the league. Stingley reset the market last March when he signed a three-year, $90 million extension with the Texans. Gardner signed a four-year, $120.4 million contract extension with the Jets a few months later, but was traded to the Colts less than a full season into the deal. Witherspoon has now overtaken them, along with Ward, and also owns the largest total contract value of any cornerback in league history at $132 million.
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