Seahawks star Devon Witherspoon reacted quickly to Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s blockbuster extension, posting an Instagram Story celebrating the news just days after Seattle also put Witherspoon on track for his own major payday. The timing is the story: Smith-Njigba’s new deal gives the Seahawks one superstar extension done, while Witherspoon remains one of the franchise’s next obvious big-money priorities.
Heavy
In the Instagram story, Witherspoon reposted the breaking-news graphic about Smith-Njigba’s extension and added a celebratory caption with trophy emojis, a public show of support for his fellow 2023 first-rounder. It landed at a notable moment for Seattle, which exercised the fifth-year options on both Smith-Njigba and Witherspoon on March 20, keeping each player under contract through 2027 while preserving the team’s ability to negotiate long-term deals right now.
Key Points
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba reportedly agreed to a 4-year, $168.6 million extension with $120 million guaranteed.
- The Seahawks already exercised Devon Witherspoon’s fifth-year option, which does not prevent an extension.
- Witherspoon’s reaction matters because his own market is rising fast after another Pro Bowl season.
Devon Witherspoon reaction to Jaxon Smith-Njigba contract extension stands out for the timing
Smith-Njigba’s extension was a massive one. NFL.com reported the Seahawks were signing the reigning Offensive Player of the Year to a four-year, $168.6 million contract extension. The deal includes $120 million guaranteed and makes him the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history by annual average.
That naturally shifts attention to Witherspoon.
Seattle’s official site noted both 2023 first-round picks are extension-eligible even after the club picked up their fifth-year options. For Witherspoon, that means the Seahawks have secured time, but not cost certainty. Waiting can make elite young players more expensive, not less.
Why Seahawks extension talk around Devon Witherspoon is getting louder
The market context is impossible to ignore. ESPN reported Trent McDuffie recently landed a record 4-year, $124 million extension with $100 million guaranteed, setting a new high bar at cornerback. Heavy previously highlighted a Spotrac projection that valued Witherspoon at roughly $82.23 million over three years, or $27.4 million annually, and that estimate could rise if Seattle waits.
That is why Witherspoon celebrating Smith-Njigba’s win carries extra subtext. It is not just teammate support. It is also another reminder that Seattle is now in the phase of its roster cycle where cornerstone players from the 2023 class are cashing in.
Witherspoon has already built a résumé that supports that conversation.He has made the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons, and his fifth-year option value is about $21.2 million for 2027.
What Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s deal could mean for Devon Witherspoon next
The most important takeaway is not that Witherspoon’s extension is suddenly imminent. It is that Seattle has shown a willingness to move early on premium young talent instead of letting the price climb another year. The team already followed that pattern with Charles Cross after previously exercising his option, a timeline Seahawks.com specifically referenced.
For roster-building purposes, locking up Smith-Njigba first also clarifies the next major conversation. Witherspoon is a premier defensive building block at a premium position, and his cost only gets steeper if he adds another All-Pro-caliber season. That makes his Instagram reaction feel especially on-brand: celebrate your teammate today, then understand your own turn may not be far behind.
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