RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon became the highest-paid player at his position in league history on Saturday.
New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez wants to be next...
Witherspoon, 25, reached an agreement on a four-year, $132 million contract extension that will take him through 2031, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Seahawks also handed out the most guaranteed money in history to someone at the position, with $101 million guaranteed money slightly edging out the number due to Los Angeles Rams cornerback Trent McDuffie.
Gonzalez, 24, is not only expected to surpass those numbers, but wants to blow them out of the water.
“Witherspoon is at $33 million per year,” ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said on "SportsCenter" on Sunday. “Gonzalez is going to need to top that, so you’re looking at closer to $35 million per year… Witherspoon, there was optimism throughout. With the Patriots and Gonzalez, not as much optimism. Hasn’t been as smooth as a negotiation. Robert Kraft said they offered him to be the highest-paid corner in the league. I don’t sense that Gonzalez loved that all that much.”
Gonzalez could have signed two weeks ago and become the highest-paid player in franchise history -- though that contract would only need to include $52 million in guaranteed money to surpass defensive lineman Milton Williams. If he wants to surpass other cornerbacks, the organization would need to commit to more than $101 million in guarantees to surpass Witherspoon.
Witherspoon and Gonzalez share an agent, which could signal that talks will pick up now that his attention isn't being split between two clients.
Gonzalez has not practiced in nearly a week, drawing back from participating when the Indianapolis Colts showed up for joint practices last Tuesday.
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