The Seahawks Just Made Their Master Plan Official, and It Changes Everything
The Seattle Seahawks had a choice this offseason: go big, go home, or play it smart. On Friday, General Manager John Schneider made it crystal clear which path he's taking, and honestly, it might be the most underrated move of the entire offseason.
The team picked up the fifth-year options for Devon Witherspoon and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, signaling exactly what everyone in the Emerald City already knows: these two are the future of this franchise, and the Seahawks are locking them down for the long haul. This isn't just a procedural move. This is a statement.
Why a Quiet Offseason Is Actually Genius
Here's the thing about building a championship roster: keeping it together is harder than winning the Super Bowl in the first place. The Seahawks entered the offseason with the sixth-most available cap space in the league. They could've splurged on big-name free agents or chased stars across the league. Instead, Schneider did something different. He chose to let some guys walk, including Kenneth Walker III, Riq Woolen, Coby Bryant, and Boye Mafe. He didn't chase expensive names in free agency. The team has yet to make a blockbuster move.
But that's not lazy. That's calculated. The reason? Smith-Njigba and Witherspoon need to get paid, and the Seahawks need to make sure that happens.
Two Players Worth Every Dollar
Smith-Njigba put on an absolute masterclass in his first season without Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf. The guy led the league with 1,793 receiving yards, hauled in 119 receptions on 163 targets, and averaged a league-leading 14.5 yards per touch. He scored ten touchdowns and ran away with first-team All-Pro and Offensive Player of the Year honors. We're talking about a receiver who might reset the entire wide receiver market. He could be eyeing Ja'Marr Chase money around $40.25 million per year. That's not greed. That's market value.
Witherspoon is just as worthy. At only 25 years old, he's already one of the league's premier game-wrecking defensive backs. Pro Football Focus ranked him as the No. 1 cornerback among 114 eligible players with an 89.9 overall grade. He was second in coverage grade (84.6), third in pass-rush grade (91.8), and second in run-defense (86.7). He broke up eight passes, gave up just 8.9 yards per catch, and only missed 7.7 percent of his tackles. He could be chasing record-setting money too, potentially topping Trent McDuffie's $31 million annual salary.
The Long Game Pays Off
According to Over The Cap, the Seahawks have $37.87 million in available cap space right now. They can gain nearly $5 million more by extending both Smith-Njigba and Witherspoon, giving them enough to sign all their draft picks and still make some moves down the line.
Great executives think about the future, even if that means taking a quiet offseason every couple of years. This team dominated its way to the Vince Lombardi trophy last season. They don't need massive overhauls. They need to keep their two best players locked in and ready to lead the next chapter.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.