Seahawks Exercise Fifth-Year Options for WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, CB Devon Witherspoon
The Seahawks knocked it out of the park on the first night of the 2023 NFL Draft, taking Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon with the fifth overall pick of the draft and adding Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba 15 picks later. Both players were huge contributors in the team’s 2025 Super Bowl-winning season, and while extensions continue to be worked towards, Seattle has officially announced its decision to exercise the fifth-year options on both players’ rookie contracts. 
Witherspoon established himself as an immediate star as a rookie, starting 13 of 14 game appearances and logging 16 passes defensed, a 97-yard pick six, and three sacks en route to the first of three straight Pro Bowl seasons. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) graded Witherspoon as the sixth-best cornerback in the NFL. Starting all 17 games in Year 2, PFF’s 16th-best cornerback that season finished second on the team with 98 total tackles, adding on a sack, six tackles for loss, and nine passes defensed. This year, five missed games near the start of the year led to decreased stat total, but Witherspoon’s excellence when he got back on the field was apparent as he earned second-team All-Pro honors and graded out as PFF’s best cornerback in the NFL.
Smith-Njigba didn’t start nearly as hot as Witherspoon, but he’s taken major leaps in each new season. Playing in every game his rookie year, Smith-Njigba only made three starts and finished behind D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett in all three receiving categories with 63 receptions, 628 receiving yards, and four receiving touchdowns. Playing in every game of Year 2, as well, Smith-Njigba established himself as the new WR1 in Seattle, surpassing Metcalf and Lockett with 100 receptions for 1,130 yards and six touchdowns, earning his first Pro Bowl honors. Benefitting from the departures of Metcalf and Lockett and the arrival of Sam Darnold, Smith-Njigba once again led the team in all three categories with 119 catches for a league-leading 1,793 receiving yards and ten touchdowns, securing Pro Bowl, first-team All-Pro, and Offensive Player of the Year honors.
In the days since the season ended with confetti in San Francisco and parade buses in Seattle, the Seahawks have begun the work of attempting to extend Smith-Njigba. The 2025 OPOY disclosed recently that he does believe he deserves “to be the highest paid” wide receiver in the NFL, but at this exact moment, with two years now remaining on his deal, he was “not too pressed” to work out an extended deal. We haven’t seen the same reports concerning Witherspoon, but that surely doesn’t mean the Seahawks won’t be doing everything they can to land both big fish on huge, long-term deals.
According to Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic, the value of Smith-Njigba’s fifth-year option is projected to be about $23.8MM while Witherpoon’s projects around $21.1MM. Witherspoon’s fifth-year option was inflated to its maximum possible value due to the pair of Pro Bowls he made in his first two seasons. With the top of the receiver market currently set at $40.25MM per year and the cornerback market topping out at $31MM per year, the Seahawks are likely content with those fifth-year figures. There’s a chance neither player sees those options, though, as Seattle will likely continue to push for extensions in the months to come.
Jaguars To Sign Seahawks WR Jake Bobo To Offer Sheet
The Jaguars are signing Seahawks restricted free agent wide receiver/special teamer Jake Bobo to an offer sheet, Field Yates of ESPN reports. It’s a two-year, $5.5MM deal that includes $4.5MM in fully guaranteed money, according to Albert Breer of SI.com. The Seahawks will have five days to match.
Seattle tendered Bobo, who went undrafted in 2023, at the original-round level ($3.52MM). That means the Seahawks will not receive any compensation if they allow Bobo to leave for Jacksonville.
Bobo, a UCLA product, posted back-to-back 17-game seasons to begin his career. He logged a 29% offensive snap share in each of those years and combined for 32 catches, 303 yards and three touchdowns. Jaguars pass-game coordinator Shane Waldron was the Seahawks’ offensive coordinator in Bobo’s rookie year. A reunion could be in store in 2026.
Bobo missed six games with various injuries and caught just two passes during the regular season in 2025, but he hauled in a 17-yard touchdown in a 31-27 win over the Rams in the NFC championship game. While Bobo did not have a catch in the Seahawks’ Super Bowl LX victory over the Patriots, he was on the field for 35 snaps (19 on special teams, 16 on offense). The 27-year-old has amassed 587 special teams snaps in his career. He recorded a personal-high 67% ST snap share in 2024.
If Bobo goes to the Jaguars, he will likely continue as a depth receiver and special teamer. With Brian Thomas Jr, Jakobi Meyers, Parker Washington and two-way player Travis Hunter (primarily a cornerback), the Jaguars have a talented group of receivers. However, after combining for 712 offensive snaps last year, Tim Patrick and Dyami Brown are no longer on the roster. Bobo could help fill the void at the back end of the Jags’ receiving corps.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/18/26
Wednesday’s minor transactions from around the league:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: TE Teagan Quitoriano
Chicago Bears
- Signed: DT James Lynch
Cleveland Browns
- Re-signed: OLB Julian Okwara
- Signed: S Daniel Thomas
Denver Broncos
- Signed: S Tycen Anderson
San Francisco 49ers
- Re-signed: DE Sam Okuayinonu
Seattle Seahawks
- Re-signed: WR Cody White
Okwara returns to Cleveland after spending the entire 2025 season on the practice squad. The former third-round pick has 10.0 sacks in his six years of NFL play with five coming in his sophomore campaign. The addition of Thomas provides the Browns with a veteran special teams contributor.
The 49ers are bringing back Okuayinonu after the fourth-year defender filled in for 12 starts and two postseason starts with San Francisco last year. He’s recorded three sacks in each of the past two years for the 49ers.
OL Notes: Lions, Linderbaum, Steelers, Texans, Giants, Panthers, Browns, Saints
Winning a 49ers starting guard job to open last season, Ben Bartch ran into injury trouble and ultimately lost his job. The veteran interior O-lineman suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 2, being part of another injury-riddled 49ers season. Upon return, Bartch did not reacquire his starting job. Bartch ended up suffering a foot sprain, after the 49ers used an IR activation on him, and played out his contract. The Lions have him on their radar, however, with KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson noting the NFC North team conducted a visit recently. A 24-game starter with Jacksonville and San Francisco, Bartch is heading into an age-28 season. Detroit signed Cade Mays to fill in at center, and the team returns starters Tate Ratledge and Christian Mahogany from last season.
Here is the latest from around the O-line groups:
- Not returning after a Week 12 neck injury, Broderick Jones underwent fusion surgery in his neck (according to the Pat McAfee Show‘s Mark Kaboly). It looked like a long shot Pittsburgh would exercise Jones’ fifth-year option ($19.07MM), and Omar Khan did not confirm Jones would be ready for training camp. That will make the left tackle position — in a stopgap scenario at the very least — one to monitor in Pittsburgh.
- Tyler Linderbaum‘s Raiders deal keeps looking more impressive. Already locked in to what is practically a three-year, $81MM fully guaranteed contract, the new Raiders center secured a no-tag clause for 2029, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. No center has been franchise- or transition-tagged since the Panthers cuffed Ryan Kalil with a franchise tag in 2011. Then again, no center (or guard) has approached Linderbaum’s $27MM-AAV accord. With tackles, guards and center grouped together on the tag, a 2029 Linderbaum tender would have been highly unlikely. But, showcasing the leverage the three-time Pro Bowler held in free agency, he secured this deal point anyway.
- The Giants re-signed Joshua Ezeudu earlier today; this came after the team hosted veteran guard Ryan Bates on a visit, Wilson adds. Bates spent the past two seasons with the Bears, starting only two games in two Chicago seasons, but he played out a four-year, $17MM Bills deal — one designed by Chicago via a 2022 RFA offer sheet — last season. The Giants have been stingy at guard despite making a strong push for Alijah Vera-Tucker, and options are dwindling. Though, ex-John Harbaugh Ravens charge Daniel Faalele remains available.
- Wyatt Teller played right guard throughout his Browns tenure, with LG staple Joel Bitonio in place on the other side for 12 seasons, but Wilson indicates a willingness on the new Texans signee’s part to switch sides. With 2025 Houston RG Ed Ingram re-signed, Wilson points to Teller playing left guard in 2026. Wilson also posits a scenario in which Evan Brown competes with incumbent Jake Andrews for the center position. While the Cardinals used Brown at guard over the past two seasons, he has logged full seasons at center — for the Seahawks and Lions — in the past.
- As Teller leaves Cleveland after six-plus seasons and Bitonio not certain to return, the Browns added three guard options (though, guard/tackle Tytus Howard is expected to play RT following a trade). Howard’s two-year, $45MM Browns extension includes $34.5MM guaranteed at signing, per OverTheCap. Option bonuses exist in 2027 ($18.41MM) and ’28 ($14.36MM), and $13.5MM of Howard’s 2027 compensation is guaranteed at signing. Howard is due a $4MM roster bonus in 2028, per Spotrac. Zion Johnson‘s three-year, $49.5MM Browns deal includes $27.83MM fully guaranteed, Wilson tweets. Two option bonuses are in place here, with Wilson adding the ex-Chargers guard will be due a $3MM roster bonus if on Cleveland’s roster by Day 3 of the 2028 league year. $13.57MM of Johnson’s 2027 compensation is fully guaranteed.
- The Saints‘ Dillon Radunz deal is worth $6.9MM over two years, with ESPN.com’s Katherine Terrell noting it includes $3.5MM guaranteed.
- Adding center Luke Fortner and tackle Stone Forsythe, the Panthers kept costs low for both. A 2025 Saints trade pickup, Fortner is tied to a one-year deal worth $2.75MM ($1.33MM guaranteed), Wilson adds. Coming over from the Raiders, Forsythe signed a one-year, $2MM pact with $500K guaranteed (per Wilson).
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/17/26
Tuesday’s minor moves from around the NFL…
Cleveland Browns
- Re-signed: CB D’Angelo Ross
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed ERFA tender: CB Reddy Steward
- Signed RFA tender: G T.J. Bass
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed RFA tender: DT Thomas Booker
New Orleans Saints
- Suspended: CB Beanie Bishop
Seattle Seahawks
- Re-signed: LB Chazz Surratt
Tennessee Titans
- Re-signed: RB Julius Chestnut
- Signed: OL Austin Deculus
Since signing with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2023, Bass has started in just 10 of 48 games. Nevertheless, the Cowboys placed a second-round tender on Bass on March 7. The Cowboys would have received a second-rounder had they passed on matching an offer sheet, but nobody presented one to Bass over the past week and a half. The 26-year-old signed his tender with Dallas on Tuesday and will collect a substantial raise as a result. After earning a base salary of $1.03MM in 2025, Bass will rake in $5.75MM next season. As Tommy Yarrish of DallasCowboys.com notes, Bass could be a candidate to start at left guard if Tyler Smith moves to left tackle.
The league has issued a three-game suspension to Bishop for violating its substances of abuse policy, according to Mike Tripplett of NewOrleans.Football. As an undrafted rookie with the Steelers in 2024, Bishop surprisingly picked off four passes in 17 games. But Bishop did not survive the Steelers’ final cuts last August, and though he returned to their practice squad, they waived the 5-foot-9, 182-pounder in November. Bishop joined the Saints’ practice squad in December, but he did not see any action with them down the stretch. The Saints kept Bishop around after the season on a reserve/futures deal.
Deculus, whom the Texans drafted in the sixth round in 2022, has played in 26 games over his four years in the league. He notched career highs in games (13) and starts (five) during his lone season with the Chargers in 2025. Deculus stepped in for 498 tackle snaps (476 on the left side, 22 on the right) as O-line cornerstones Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt dealt with major injuries, but it did not go well. Pro Football Focus ranked Deculus’ performance last among 84 tackles. He will now compete for a spot behind Titans tackles Dan Moore Jr. and JC Latham.
NFC Contract Details: Phillips, Saints, Evans, Bears, Cowboys, Packers, Giants, Cardinals, Eagles
We covered a batch of contract details from the AFC earlier today. Here are the numbers from some of the NFC’s biggest deals from free agency’s first wave:
- Jaelan Phillips, OLB (Panthers). Four years, $120MM. Of Phillips’ $80MM guarantee, $60MM is locked in at signing (per SI.com’s Albert Breer). Phillips secured an early guarantee as well, according to OverTheCap, with $20MM of his 2028 base salary becoming guaranteed on Day 3 of the 2027 league year.
- David Edwards, G (Saints). Four years, $61MM. Edwards secured $45MM guaranteed, according to ESPN.com’s Katherine Terrell, with $40MM at signing (via OverTheCap). The Saints gave Edwards — who was tied to a two-year, $6MM Bills deal from 2024-25 — guarantees through 2028, with Terrell indicating $10MM of the guard’s $15MM 2028 base salary is locked in at signing (Edwards’ full guarantee ranks sixth among guards). The remaining $5MM in 2028 compensation vests on Day 3 of the ’28 league year, per OverTheCap. Edwards is also due a $1MM roster bonus on Day 3 of the 2029 league year, Terrell adds.
- Mike Evans, WR (49ers). Three years, $42.5MM. Evans will receive $14.3MM guaranteed at signing, according to OverTheCap. Two nonguaranteed option bonuses are included in the deal, per ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner, who indicates a $12.05MM option bonus is in place for 2027 and a $10.95MM bonus for 2028. Four void years are in place on the deal, which includes $4.25MM, $7.31MM and $9.7MM cap numbers. Essentially, this is a one-year, $14.3MM accord with team options.
- Coby Bryant, S (Bears). Three years, $40MM. Bryant landed $25.75MM fully guaranteed, Wilson tweets. Bryant secured a Year 2 fully guaranteed base salary ($12.25MM), SI.com’s Albert Breer tweets. A $500K roster bonus is due on Day 5 of the 2028 league year.
- Jermaine Eluemunor, RT (Giants). Three years, $39MM. Eluemunor secured a $25.45MM guarantee at signing, Wilson adds. (This comes after he played out a two-year, $14MM deal.) Eluemunor received $12.15MM of his $12.4MM 2027 salary guaranteed (via OverTheCap).
- Kaden Elliss, LB (Saints). Three years, $33MM. Of that total, Terrell notes $23MM is fully guaranteed. Both Elliss’ 2026 and ’27 base salaries are fully guaranteed; his 2028 compensation is nonguaranteed.
- Sean Rhyan, OL (Packers). Three years, $33MM. Per Packers non-QB norms, Rhyan’s signing bonus ($11MM) represents his only fully guaranteed money. Green Bay included a $6.65MM roster bonus, which ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky is due on Day 3 of the 2027 league year. A $3MM roster bonus is due on Day 3 of the ’28 league year, Demovsky adds.
- Isaac Seumalo, G (Cardinals). Three years, $31.5MM. Seumalo secured $19MM guaranteed, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, with $15MM fully guaranteed. Semualo received $3MM of his 2027 base salary ($8MM) guaranteed at signing; another $4MM of the 2027 salary locks in on Day 3 of the 2027 league year, per OverTheCap.
- Javonte Williams, RB (Cowboys). Three years, $24MM. Williams scored $16MM at signing. His 2026 and ’27 base salaries are locked in, according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. There are $3MM — $1MM per year — in per-game roster bonuses.
- Riq Woolen, CB (Eagles). One year, $12MM. The deal is fully guaranteed, according to OverTheCap. Seeing as this is the Eagles, there are four void years included in this contract. If he is not re-signed before the deal voids in 2027, the Eagles would be hit with $8.59MM in dead money.
Seahawks RB George Holani Signs ERFA Tender
As expected, George Holani will be back in Seattle next season. The team announced that the running back has signed his exclusive rights free agent tender.
The move locks Holani into a non-guaranteed $1.075MM base salary for the 2026 campaign. The Seahawks placed the ERFA tender on the RB earlier this month.
Holani quickly caught on with the Seahawks after going undrafted out of Boise State in 2024. He spent the majority of his rookie campaign on Seattle’s practice squad. He made appearances in five regular season games for the Seahawks, with 36 of his 41 snaps coming on special teams.
He took on a somewhat larger role in 2025, serving as the team’s third running back behind Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet. The majority of the player’s production continued to come on special teams. He finished the year with 16 kick returns for 387 yards, and he also scored a touchdown while recovering Seattle’s own kickoff in Week 2.
Offensively, Holani got 24 touches, which he turned into 88 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown. The second-year player also got an extended look in the playoffs after Charbonnet suffered a torn ACL. Holani ultimately got another nine touches in the postseason, compiling 44 yards.
The 26-year-old could be in line to take another step forward in 2026. Walker left for the Chiefs via free agency, and Charbonnet’s season debut will surely be delayed as he works his way back from the knee injury. The Seahawks did add former Packers backup Emanuel Wilson for depth, and the likes of Cam Akers, Kenny McIntosh, Velus Jones, and Jacardia Wright are on the offseason roster. Considering Holani’s familiarity with the organization, he’ll be given every chance for reps heading into the 2026 campaign.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/14/26
Saturday’s lone minor move around the NFL:
Seattle Seahawks
- Re-signed: CB Shemar Jean-Charles
Jean-Charles did not see any playing time in 2025, a season which he spent on Seattle’s practice squad. The 27-year-old will remain a depth option in the secondary through training camp as he attempts to carve out a roster spot with the Super Bowl champions.
Seahawks To Sign CB Noah Igbinoghene
Noah Igbinoghene has lined up his next NFL opportunity. The veteran cornerback has agreed to a one-year deal with the Seahawks, Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic reports. 
Seattle managed to re-sign Josh Jobe earlier this week. Riq Woolen departed by landing a deal with the Eagles, however, creating a vacancy in the Super Bowl champions’ secondary. Igbinoghene will be tasked with providing depth at that spot for 2026.
The former first-rounder spent his first three seasons with the Dolphins. Igbinoghene failed to establish himself as a full-time defensive presence during that time, and ahead of roster cuts in 2023 he was traded to the Cowboys. After a Dallas campaign which was limited to just five games, the Auburn product joined the Commanders in free agency.
Following Dan Quinn from Dallas to Washington proved to be a worthwhile decision. Igbinoghene logged 10 of his 17 career starts in 2024. He remained a part-time contributor this past season despite being shopped as a trade chip in August. Coverage statistics proved to be an issue during Igbinoghene’s Commanders tenure, and with the team undergoing numerous defensive changes it comes as little surprise he will not be retained.
Seattle’s elite defense ranked 10th against the pass en route to winning the championship. Strong play in the secondary will be expected as part of the team’s title defense. Igbinoghene may not be counted on to play a major role in that regard with Jobe back in the fold and Devon Witherspoon still attached to his rookie contract. Nevertheless, expectations will certainly be high upon arrival.
The Seahawks had roughly $44MM in cap space prior to today’s news. Igbinoghene will no doubt be playing for close to the league minimum in 2026, so Seattle will still have plenty of financial flexibility during the second week of free agency.
Seahawks Sign S Rodney Thomas; Re-Sign S D’Anthony Bell, DT Brandon Pili
The Seahawks made a handful of minor defensive moves today. Most notably, the team added former Colts starting safety Rodney Thomas, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The team also re-signed special teamer/safety D’Anthony Bell, per Jordan Schultz. Finally, the team re-signed defensive tackle Brandon Pili to a one-year, $2MM pact, per Pelissero.
A 2022 seventh-round pick, Thomas immediately carved out a role in Indy. He started 10 of his 17 appearances as a rookie, collecting 52 tackles, six passes defended, and four interceptions. He started 15 of his 17 games as a sophomore, but his numbers dropped to 34 stops and two picks. He found himself mostly playing a special teams role over the past two years, collecting 28 tackles over that stretch.
The Seahawks recently lost Coby Bryant via free agency, so there could be snaps significant snaps to soak up. Ty Okada and Julian Love will lead the depth chart, but Bryant could find himself with a defensive role as a key backup behind that duo.
After spending three seasons in Cleveland, Bell joined the Seahawks last offseason. He was mostly signed for his special teams prowess, and he ended up garnering 251 snaps with that unit. However, the veteran spent some time on defense when Love missed games, and Bell ultimately started a pair of games while getting into 96 defensive snaps.
He was waived by the Seahawks late in December and didn’t end up sticking around for the team’s Super Bowl run. He was claimed off waivers by the Panthers, where he ended his season. As a free agent, Bell is now heading back to Seattle, with Schultz noting that it’s another one-year deal for the 29-year-old.
Pili started the season on the practice squad but eventually got his way into 13 games for the Seahawks. Byron Murphy and Jarran Reed will both be back at nose tackle and defensive tackle (respectively) in 2026, so Pili will likely compete with holdover Rylie Mills for leftover snaps at either position.