Latest NFL news puts millions of dollars into Seahawks rookie's pocket

Another year, another Seattle Seahawks cornerback makes the Pro Bowl.

Last year, it was rookie phenom and former fifth-round pick, Tariq Woolen, that burst onto the scene and even finished as a finalist for Defensive Rookie of the year. Now, it's rookie fifth overall pick, Devon Witherspoon making a name for himself.

Witherspoon is one of four NFC corners to make the 2024 Pro Bowl after a solid season in Seattle. So far, the former Fighting Illini has recorded one interception, a defensive touchdown, 3.0 sacks, a forced fumble, five tackles for loss, four quarterback hits, and 68 total tackles on the year. He joins fellow defensive mates, Bobby Wagner and Julian Love, on the initial 2024 roster.

With Woolen on the outside and Witherspoon's ability to play both in and out - the Seahawks have a very formidable duo for the next few years.

Witherspoon cashes in thanks to Pro Bowl nod

Not only does Witherspoon get to call himself a first-ballot Pro Bowler moving forward, he is going to get a very large raise when his fifth-year option rolls around in 2027. 

That's because first-round picks who make the Pro Bowl in their first three years in the league see their fifth-year salary get bumped to the equivalent of that year's transition tag. If they make multiple Pro Bowls, it gets bumped to that of the franchise tag. It all stems from the NFL's Proven Performance Escalator program, which rewards players on rookie deals with pay bumps if certain thresholds are met.

Take Los Angeles Chargers left tackle Rashawn Slater, for instance. He was drafted in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft and made the Pro Bowl his rookie year. Therefore, he'll see his fifth-year option salary bump to the transition tag in 2025. Official numbers for said tag aren't out yet, but Over The Cap projects the tag to be worth $22,976,000, which is $2.099 million more than the projected $20.877 he could make in Year 5.

Witherspoon's raise won't come until 2027, which is too far out to project, but the transition tag for a corner in 2024 is projected to be $15.883 million. So, whatever Witherspoon is making in 2027, he'll be able to add a few mil on top of it. And, if he makes another Pro Bowl, he'll be adding even more.

That Russell Wilson trade just keeps paying off, doesn't it?