Our very own Devon Witherspoon isn’t just locking down receivers, he’s setting the entire cornerback market on fire. The Seahawks’ star corner inked a deal that blasted past $100 million guaranteed, completely resetting the bar for top-tier defensive backs across the league. That’s big money for big play, and it shows the league what a difference-maker can truly command.
Witherspoon’s Impact: A New Standard for Elite Play
It’s not just our guy Witherspoon, either. Patriots’ corner Christian Gonzalez also landed a deal exceeding $100 million guaranteed, showing a clear trend for elite talent at the position. This new standard for top corners is absolutely massive, and it highlights exactly what players like Joey Porter Jr. are fighting for. Porter Jr., a rising defensive star for the Steelers, is staring down the final year of his rookie deal, set to make just under $4 million. That’s chump change compared to what he’s worth! The Steelers have a tough choice ahead: pay the man what he deserves or consider slapping him with the dreaded franchise tag for 2027. That tag would give him a $24 million payday, a solid $20 million raise, sure, but it’s still less than the projected $27-30 million he could easily pull in with a long-term contract. You can see the dilemma, right? It’s a classic player vs. team battle brewing, and it really shows you how much leverage a truly top-tier talent like our own Devon Witherspoon now has in this league.
The NFL’s ‘Backwards’ Game That Screws Players
This whole franchise tag situation has the longest-tenured Steeler, Cam Heyward, absolutely *fuming*. Heyward, who dealt with his own contract dispute before the 2025 season, didn’t mince words after practice. “It’s stupid,” he said, flat out, and you gotta agree. “It hampers players. Why should any team be able to take advantage of a player for one year?” He’s hitting the nail on the head! Heyward thinks the franchise tag is completely pointless and shouldn’t even be allowed in the league. He went on to say, “It’s used in negotiations, and I think between the player options, the franchise tags, the way they control rookies, I think it’s kind of backwards.” You can feel the frustration, especially when the Steelers have already locked up 2023 draft picks Nick Herbig, Darnell Washington, and Keeanu Benton, leaving Porter Jr. as the *lone* remaining contributor from that class without a long-term deal. The clock is ticking too, seriously ticking down: the Steelers have a 1990s team policy of not negotiating in season, meaning Porter Jr. and the team only have days to get it done before they face the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. NFL Network reporter Mike Garafolo reported on Tuesday that while an offer is apparently on the table, the two sides are still “far apart.” It’s a high-stakes game.
While Porter Jr. and the Steelers figure out their mess, our Seahawks are already out there proving what a truly top-tier corner can do on the field. We just took down the New England Patriots 13-10! That’s a solid, gritty win that shows the Emerald City exactly what kind of fight this team has got early in the season. That’s the kind of impact players like Witherspoon bring when they get paid what they’re worth. Let’s go, Hawks! Keep that momentum rolling!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Behind the Steel Curtain.
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