To no surprise, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Devon Witherspoon each had their fifth-year options exercised by the Seahawks recently. That ensures both stalwarts will remain in place through 2027. 
Seattle is able to work out an extension in each case this offseason, however. Working out an agreement for Smith-Njigba and Witherspoon at some point before the start of the 2026 campaign would fall in line with previous Seahawks timelines. Per Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic, an agreement on both fronts can be expected this spring or summer.
Smith-Njigba will collect $23.85MM in 2027, while Witherspoon is due $21.16MM for that year. Both multi-time Pro Bowlers are no doubt in line to secure more lucrative paydays when their second contracts are finalized. As Dugar notes, extensions at or near the top of the receiver and cornerback markets are likely forthcoming. Smith-Njigba secured Offensive Player of the Year and first-team All-Pro honors for 2025, a season in which he led the NFL in receiving yards and set new career highs in several categories.
The 24-year-old has seen his receiving totals, yards per catch average and touchdown figures increase with each passing year in the NFL. That, coupled with Smith-Njigba’s durability – no missed games to date – makes him a strong candidate to challenge the top of the WR market. Ja’Marr Chase is attached to a deal averaging $40.24MM per year. His 2025 Bengals extension contained $73.9MM in full guarantees, a figure surpassed only by Justin Jefferson ($88.74MM) at the position. With the salary cap surpassing $300MM, Smith-Njigba will aim to match or outpace Chase and Jefferson’s pacts during negotiations.
Witherspoon, 25, already has three Pro Bowl invites on his resume. The Illinois product was a second-team All-Pro in 2025, and he was a key part of Seattle’s elite defense which carried the team to a Super Bowl title. Expectations will remain high in his case for years to come, and after seeing multiple free agent departures in the secondary the Seahawks could ensure stability with a long-term agreement. Witherspoon is likely to join the nine cornerbacks whose contracts average $20.1MM or more per year. Draft classmate Christian Gonzalez is eligible for a Patriots extension, and he could be a comparable figure in Witherspoon’s case.
Dugar writes nothing is imminent at this point with respect to a Smith-Njigba or Witherspoon extension. That could very well remain the case until after the draft at a minimum. As training camp and the 2026 season approach, though, it will be interesting to see if contract talks pick up.
Locking up star players early instead of dragging it out? Hmmm, seems controversial.
That’s something Jerry jones has never figured out
He sure hasn’t.
I will never forget that Gute took Lukas Van Ness over JSN. Almost as bad as trading back to take Kevin King instead of TJ Watt.
Worst GM in football.
If you go back through nine drafts you can easily find mistakes that big for every single team in football. They have one losing season in the last seven, and even that was by just one game. He’s done a solid roster building job, even if he’s frustrating. Certainly not the worst GM in football.
Taking van Ness over JSN is criminal. Consider where the WR room was post Adams trade and the desperate need for a WR.
JSN was coming off a huge finish to his season showing what he could do.
It was a huge mistake.
JSN was coming off a final college season he missed most of with injury.
Oh damn, I missed an entire year there. I remember him dropping 300 in a bowl game and didn’t even realize he missed a season.
I still am pissed Gute didn’t take him, Van Ness is a bust so far. I was pulling for JSN or Addison if he had already went.
Van Ness is the only guy in the top 15 picks of that draft to NOT be a team’s primary starter at least 1 season since being drafted.
If Jordan love could throw to JSN that would be as good as Rodgers to Adams
The market will be reset with these 2
Doubt it. As much as fans and the team want this… the team is up for sale and large contracts on the books is no bueno.
That’s a poor blanket statement. He can be good for selling the Seahawks brand. He’s a star that draws in attendance. Having him locked up won’t be a negative asset.
I doubt our next owners are going to deny JSN and Spoon their money just because it’s money
I also doubt they will decide it’s a good idea to move the team to Oklahoma City to save money
Good prediction, Keithg lol
Well I’ve got some news for you…