Category Archives: Contracts

Big tight end deals set the range for Barner extension in 2027

AJ Barner’s price has jumped to $15 million. Will the Seahawks want to pay it?

Two big extensions by tight ends over the weekend created the range for Barner’s next contract, assuming he continues to play like he did in 2025.

The Packers extended Tucker Kraft for $18.75 million a year, and the Raiders gave Michael Mayer a deal worth $15 million a year. Barner is not yet at Kraft’s level, but he is more accomplished than Mayer.

Continue reading Big tight end deals set the range for Barner extension in 2027 →

Williams extension completes lineup for potential dynasty

With Leonard Williams happily under contract for another three years, the Seahawks are now ready to make a run at becoming the next NFL dynasty.

Williams is the seventh mainstay extended or re-signed this year, joining Charles Cross, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed, Josh Jobe, Derick Hall and Devon Witherspoon. That doesn’t include lesser two-year deals given to Drake Thomas and Brady Russell.

This Super Bowl team is basically set for the next two years, with only three starting spots in question next offseason: edge rusher, center and right guard. If Jalen Sundell is tendered and Beau Stephens steps into Anthony Bradford’s spot, edge rusher will be the only hole.  

Continue reading Williams extension completes lineup for potential dynasty →

Spoon’s deal beat anything on the field in preseason opener

The Seahawks played their first football game of the season Saturday, but the most exciting action came earlier that morning when Devon Witherspoon finally signed the contract that made him (for now) the highest-paid cornerback in the league.

Mike Macdonald made us laugh when he lamented that his “team” did not play very well in the 17-7 loss to Dallas – because it was mostly third-stringers. We all know his A-team could start playing and winning right now.

This preseason is all about getting Brian Fleury integrated as the new OC, ramping up some young guys (e.g., Bud Clark) and settling the six or seven undetermined roster spots (some of which will rotate throughout the season anyway). Beyond that, the Seahawks are ready to “run it forward” in 2026 right now.

Meanwhile, John Schneider and Joey Laine have been running it forward beyond 2026. With the big extension for Witherspoon finally done, they now have locked up seven starters through at least 2028, along with drafting four other key guys in the last two years.

In our three-year projection, there are just seven openings for 2028: C, RG, WR3, ER2, both ILBs, SS. And four of those guys — Ernest Jones IV, Drake Thomas, Julian Love, Jalen Sundell — could easily be re-signed. That’s a pretty good-looking future.

Let’s take a look at Spoon’s deal, a little more on Terrion Arnold and the few tidbits we learned from the game Saturday.

Continue reading Spoon’s deal beat anything on the field in preseason opener →

Big Cat extension would keep defense elite for longer

AI conversion of photo by Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images

The Seahawks have spent the first week of training camp improving the team that won the Super Bowl (and is being ignorantly underrated in many corners of the NFL universe this summer).

Training camp is the on-field business, with direct impact on the 2026 season. But there is off-field business being done as well, affecting the future of the franchise.

While Devon Witherspoon’s agency supposedly is still negotiating with the Seahawks, Leonard Williams revealed that his agent also has been talking to the team about a new deal – and then word came that the deal is expected to be done before the start of the season. That’s the news we wanted to hear.

Continue reading Big Cat extension would keep defense elite for longer →

NFL position surveys show value of Williams, Darnold ahead of possible extensions

When the Khosla family takes over the Seahawks ahead of this season, the new owners figure to step into a flurry of big contract extensions.

Devon Witherspoon is expected to be the next one, coming in as one of the two highest-paid cornerbacks in the NFL before the season begins (ideally even before the Khoslas take ownership). John Schneider also might be working on another big-money extension – for Leonard Williams. And next year it will be Sam Darnold’s turn.

ESPN’s ongoing series of positional top-10 rankings might be informative for the value of new deals for Williams and Darnold.

Continue reading NFL position surveys show value of Williams, Darnold ahead of possible extensions →

NFL folks rank Spoon No. 4 among corners as he seeks top dollar

A new ESPN survey of dozens of NFL coaches and execs puts Devon Witherspoon fourth among all current cornerbacks in the league.

Some oddly think this survey will make it tougher for the Seahawks to extend Witherspoon before the season, but let’s be clear: John Schneider and lead contract guy Joey Laine already are prepared to pay top dollar for Mike Macdonald’s favorite defender. They know he is a top-five corner, and there is no reason to think this survey changes anything in regard to contract talks.

Continue reading NFL folks rank Spoon No. 4 among corners as he seeks top dollar →

Hall’s extension was a pleasant surprise

In a move that certainly surprised us, Derick Hall decided not to follow Boye Mafe’s path toward big free-agent money, choosing instead to stay in Seattle for maybe 70% of what he could have gotten on the market next year.

That Hall chose to stay rather than chase the big bucks is a testament to what Mike Macdonald and John Schneider have built and continue to build in Seattle.

It’s the first big move the Seahawks have made to settle their defensive front beyond 2026 – Byron Murphy II had been the only guy among the top seven assured of returning in 2027.

Continue reading Hall’s extension was a pleasant surprise →

Darnold should merit $55M — a fair price for Hawks to pay

When it comes to mega extensions for Seahawks stars, the current focus is on Devon Witherspoon. But next year, it will be on Sam Darnold.

Darnold still is not getting respect from some corners of the NFL universe, but others know what he is worth.

Daniel Jeremiah recently told Seattle Sports 710 AM that he thinks Darnold will get around $50 million per year on his next deal.

“(If) he comes out and has a year that approaches what he did last year,” DJ said, “I would say he’s going to land in that ballpark.”

We think he will get around $55 million a year — and that will not be a problem for Seattle.

Continue reading Darnold should merit $55M — a fair price for Hawks to pay →

$45M in savings; Spoon deal & more business

Dante Fowler Jr.’s signing for up to $5 million is a heck of a bargain swap for a guy who is at least an even trade for $20 million free-agent loss Boye Mafe.

Fowler’s arrival means all four key free agents who left – Mafe, Kenneth Walker III, Coby Bryant and Riq Woolen – have been replaced by cheaper players who are (or should be) equal to or better than the four who left.

The total APY for the departing four is close to $60 million, while the replacements – Fowler, Jadarian Price, Bud Clark and the corner combo of Julian Neal and Noah Igbinoghene — combine for less than $15 million. That is some great budgeting by John Schneider and cap guy Joey Laine.

Continue reading $45M in savings; Spoon deal & more business →