The Seattle Seahawks are 1-0, so it's time to start scouting their next opponent.
The Arizona Cardinals shocked the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 with a 26-14 win in which Mike LaFleur became the franchise's first non-interim head coach to win their first game in charge. The matchup was projected as one of the opening week's most lopsided in favor of Jim Harbaugh and Los Angeles, who were coming off an 11-6 record in 2025. Los Angeles made the playoffs and lost to the eventual AFC champion New England Patriots in the Wild Card round, albeit without either of their starting offensive tackles—Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt—who were both expected to boost the offense upon their return this season. Arizona's defense had other ideas, and became one of the biggest surprises of any unit across Week 1's Sunday slate, while their offense simply looked more talented and outplayed LA with complementary football. That's what the Seahawks will be looking for in Week 2.
The Cardinals defense played with an energy that stifled Justin Herbert and new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, who only held the ball for 51 plays and 22:29. Arizona ran 21 more plays and had the ball for 15:02 more of the game (more than an entire quarter?!) When watching this game, the attitude from Arizona's defense seemed to disregard the stature of its opponent. LaFleur retained defensive coordinator Nick Rallis, who Phoenix-based sports radio host John Gambadoro credits for helping set the temperature.
It's easy to see Rallis' results. The intensity of the defense that showed up on tape is just as evident on paper. His Cardinals defense ranks second to last in blitz rate so far this season, yet they held McDaniel and Herbert to a measly 2-for-8 on third downs and 0-for-3 on fourth downs. Their front seven was far more formidable than the Chargers on the day, producing 17 pressures on 55 snaps while LA could only muster 12 on 75 opportunities. On the flipside, the Cardinals' offensive line has been projected as their downfall this season. The Seahawks have a clear opportunity to establish their presence as a physically dominant team if they kill the Cardinals momentum. This will be the game for elite run blockers like AJ Barner and run stoppers like Uchenna Nwosu to put the new age film community on watch.
Offensive talent is far from the problem in Arizona. Trey McBride is the best tight end in football. They've got two running backs in Jeremiyah Love and Tyler Allgeier who can both be a problem for any team. Marvin Harrison Jr. was a matchup nightmare against the Seahawks last season. In Week 3, he had one of the best battles against Devon Witherspoon and Riq Woolen of any wide receiver all year. When partnered with a seasoned veteran quarterback with a quick release, they were able to make life easy on their OL. Jacoby Brissett looked like at least an average starting QB, completing 27/37 passes for a respectable 73.0% completion rate while taking only 1 sack on 39 dropbacks. Loo

Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. has dealt with a lot of trade rumors and highest-paid cornerback speculation over the past few months, but the real issue in contract talks is becoming more clear by the day.
According to PennLive's Nick Farabaugh, as well as Porter's own admission that he doesn't care about becoming the highest-paid corner, the contract negotiations are all about guaranteed money.
"Repeat after me -- It's not the AAV, it's the guarantees! (and always has been)," Farabaugh wrote via X.
So far this year, we've seen cornerbacks like Christian Gonzalez, Devon Witherspoon, and Trent McDuffie completely reset the cornerback market with deals surpassing $30 million per year. Their guaranteed money has been around 75% to 80% of their total contract value.
Previously, we at Steelers Wire predicted that Porter could sign a four-year, $128 million extension that pays him an average of $32 million per season with $101 million in guaranteed money. But it's evident the holdup is more related to the latter.

#million #cornerback #contract #porter

Christian Gonzalez has agreed to a four-year, $135 million contract with the New England Patriots that makes him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history, two people with knowledge of the deal told The **** ociated Press on Tuesday.
Both people spoke on condition of anonymity because the team hasn't announced the contract. One of the people said Gonzalez is getting $102 million guaranteed.
Gonzalez surpassed Devon Witherspoon's new contract from the Seattle Seahawks. Witherspoon received a four-year, $132 million deal with $101 million guaranteed last month.
The Patriots and Seahawks meet in a Super Bowl rematch to kick off the NFL season on Wednesday.
A first-round pick by Bill Belichick in 2023, Gonzalez was a second-team AP All-Pro in 2024 and made the Pro Bowl in 2025.

#gonzalez #million #people #deal

The New England Patriots rewarded cornerback Christian Gonzalez with a massive four-year, $135 million deal on the eve of their season opener against the Seattle Seahawks, according to multiple reports. Just last week Gonzalez didn't commit to playing against Seattle as he sought a new deal, so now both parties are satisfied as they enter 2026 with Super Bowl expectations.
Gonzalez, 24, is entering his fourth NFL season after earning his first Pro Bowl nod in 2025. While he's not a big turnover producer with three career interceptions, Gonzalez is physical and moves fluidly at 6-foot-1, locking down half the field for Mike Vrabel's defense.
This deal comes three weeks after Seattle made Devon Witherspoon the NFL's highest-paid cornerback. Witherspoon didn't hold the crown for long, as Gonzalez now has the largest contract at the position.
Here's a look at some of the other biggest cornerback contracts.
(Total value)

#gonzalez #cornerback #three

The cornerback market rose again in the early morning hours Tuesday as the New England Patriots and star defensive back Christian Gonzalez agreed to a record-setting four-year, $135 million extension with $102 million guaranteed just ahead of the team's season opener, insider Jordan Schultz reported.
Gonzalez's $33.75 million yearly average sets the new top mark for cornerbacks, just ahead of the $33 million average-per-year contract fellow 2023 draftee and Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon signed earlier this offseason.
Now, only one big-name cornerback contract dispute from the 2023 draft remains: the Steelers and Joey Porter Jr.'s "impasse."
Pittsburgh remains adamant in its policy of not negotiating with players during the regular season. And Porter hasn't closed the door on sitting out games if he isn't extended by Week 1. With the Steelers opening their season on Sunday, Sept. 13, the remaining window for an extension this offseason is rapidly shrinking — and the cornerback market keeps going up.
Porter is entering the final year of his rookie contract.

#cornerback #year #season

The New England Patriots have reportedly agreed to a four-year, $102 million extension with Christian Gonzalez, making him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
All of the speculation surrounding the star defensive back can finally end.
The Patriots have decided to invest long-term in having one of the best cover cornerbacks in the NFL for years to come. And Gonzalez, Bill Belichick's final first-round draft pick, is digging his roots in as a foundational defensive stalwart in New England's secondary.
The extension comes after the Seattle Seahawks agreed to a blockbuster deal with All-Pro cornerback Devon Witherspoon in August. There was a belief that Gonzalez was waiting for that deal to get done to set a baseline for his negotiations with the Patriots.
It took longer than expected, but Gonzalez and Witherspoon, who share the same agent, have both now made history in less than a month apart.

#gonzalez #agreed #extension #england

Christian Gonzalez and the New England Patriots have agreed on a four-year, $135 million extension late on Monday night, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
The 24-year-old is now the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL and the highest-paid player in Patriots history. Defensive lineman Milton Williams owned the record previously after signing a four-year, $104 million ($63 million guaranteed) deal during free agency in March 2025.
Gonzalez is now one of two cornerbacks in NFL history to reach a deal worth more than $130 million. Seattle Seahawks star Devon Witherspoon signed a four-year, $132 million extension last month, which briefly made him the highest-paid player at the position.
The Patriots appeared to confirm the new deal on social media on Monday night.
A second-team All-Pro in 2024 and a Pro Bowler last season, Gonzalez was the Patriots' first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. After playing only four games during his rookie season due to a torn labrum and dislocated shoulder, he suited up 16 times in 2024, recording 50 solo tackles and two interceptions.

#year

Less than 48 hours away from the start of the 2026 NFL season, the second domino in the cornerback market has fallen.
The New England Patriots and All-Pro Christian Gonzalez have agreed to a 4-year, $135 million contract extension with $102 million in guarantees, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz on Monday night.
After the Seattle Seahawks and Devon Witherspoon agreed to a four-year, $132 million ($101 million guaranteed) extension that made him the highest-paid cornerback in football, it was a matter of time until the Pats and Gonzalez followed suit and topped that figure — and despite some concern that a deal wouldn't get done before the season opener, they now have come to an agreement.
The extension comes over a month after Patriots owner Robert Kraft told media the team had offered Gonzalez a cornerback-record deal. Gonzalez held off on signing that contract offer, with the ****** umption being he was waiting out Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon, who was also in line to sign a mega-deal at the time.
Both Witherspoon and Gonzalez have emerged as bona fide stars at the position since they were taken in the 2023 NFL Draft, with Witherspoon selected fifth overall and Gonzalez coming off the board at pick 17.

#Patriots #seahawks

Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez still doesn't have a contract extension, and with the season opener only four days away, he isn't not committing to playing without one.
Gonzalez continues to take a day-to-day approach.
"I'm focused on today," Gonzalez said, via Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald. "Right now, it is practice in what, a couple, 30 minutes, 40 minutes. Worried on that right now, so we'll focus on that."
Gonzalez answered "I don't know" when asked if contract talks were progressing.
The Seahawks recently signed cornerback Devon Witherspoon to a four-year, $132 million deal, which should provide a template for the Patriots. Gonzalez and Witherspoon have the same agent, Reggie Johnson.

#minutes #doug

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon delivered one of the NFL's standout seasons at the position in recent memory last year.
Pro Football Focus touted Witherspoon as having earned the second-highest graded season for a cornerback in the league since 2020.
Jaire Alexander (No. 1) was the only player who was ranked ahead of Witherspoon, having received an overall player grade of 90.7 for his performance from the 2020 NFL season as a member of the Green Bay Packers.
Witherspoon's performance further cemented his status as a cornerstone of Seattle's defense. His ability to excel in coverage while making game-changing plays has made him one of the Seahawks' most impactful defenders.
The young cornerback has continued to develop into a reliable and versatile presence in Seattle's secondary. His physical style, playmaking ability and consistency have allowed him to make an impact in multiple areas of the defense and shine among the best talents in the league at the slot.

#witherspoon #defense #Seattle

Pro Football Focus released its top 32 cornerbacks rankings going into the 2026 NFL season earlier this month. While Seattle Seahawks CB Devon Witherspoon tops the list, the Denver Broncos have an impressive two cornerbacks on the list: Pat Surtain II and Ja'Quan McMillian.
Check out why writer Dalton Wasserman placed both Surtain and McMillian on his list.
On Surtain:
"Surtain didn't quite reach the heights of his Defensive Player of the Year-winning 2024 campaign last season, but he still played very well while accruing at least 1,000 snaps for the fourth straight year. His 73.3 PFF grade ranked 22nd among all qualified cornerbacks. He also tallied 10 pass breakups and hauled in one interception. Surtain will continue to be the headliner for one of the league's elite secondaries."
And on McMillian:

#year #Football #Seattle

The Dallas Cowboys have a chance to go undefeated in the preseason for the first time in two decades if they can defeat the New Orleans Saints on Friday night. Given the culture forged by head coach Brian Schottenheimer, the team wants to make it happen. While preseason results don't matter in regards to the regular season and playoffs, for some on the bottom of the roster fighting for a spot, it's everything.
The Cowboys might not know who's making the team at the end of the depth chart at receiver, offensive line, defensive line, linebacker, cornerback, or safety. It's rare, but occasionally a great showing in the final preseason game can be the thing that pushes someone onto the 53-man roster over someone else who doesn't have a good showing.
The Cowboys have one of the best defensive tackle combos in the NFL. If Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark aren't the best, they're definitely top tier. Otito Ogbonnia is an impactful veteran run stopper, and then the cupboard looks bare.
Jonathan Bullard should be a good veteran, but he has been out all camp and could be a cut candidate who goes to the practice squad and then is called up once he is completely healthy. In 326 snaps last season, he had a run defense grade of 63.9, average at best.
The other three in the group include 2025 draft pick Jay Toia and undrafted free agent (UDFA) rookies D.J. Withers and Tommy Dunn. Through two preseason games, Toia's run defense grade dropped from 65.9 against the Seattle Seahawks to 23.1 against the Cardinals. Dunn was consistent with a PFF run grade of 66.8 in both contests, and Withers had a run grade of 70.2 in game one and 68.2 in game two.

#cowboys #grade #game #withers

As Week 1 nears, star cornerback Christian Gonzalez remains without a contract extension, and when speaking with reporters earlier this week, he did admit that he was frustrated by the way things have been going.
"I mean, it's frustrating, but I mean, I'm focused on the season," Gonzalez said on Tuesday. "I'm focused on here now and doing what I got to do, and I'm out here to compete and get better."
Head coach Mike Vrabel was asked about Gonzalez's comments, saying that he had no reaction to him being frustrated, but said he understands where he might be coming from.
"I have conversations with Christian, and I understand that this is probably something that's difficult," he said after the Patriots' preseason finale loss to the Browns. "I've never been in that position to this extent. Try to treat it with class, but he and I communicate, and our players are always free to feel how they feel. They just have to stay patient and just hope that we can work toward some kind of agreement."
Gonzalez is seeking a contract that will make him the highest-paid cornerback in the league, but a concerning update from ESPN's Adam Schefter on Thursday ahead of the preseason game detailed how the team hasn't offered him a deal that matches the $33 million annually Seattle is giving corner Devon Witherspoon.

#christian #week

The reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks are not content to rest on their laurels.
We know this because they have the second-most starters returning from a championship team in the last 15 years. It would be natural for basically the same group of players and coaches to have the same exact ambition: Continuing what they started with February's Lombardi Trophy victory and going for the legendary repeat.
We also know the Seahawks are not content to sit back based on the money they've thrown around this offseason, and even dating back to last summer. Seattle has spent so much money on key members of its current championship core for the foreseeable future that you almost wonder whether the currency they're using is actually Monopoly money. Where does it keep coming from? Oh right, the Seahawks have the Park Place and Boardwalk squares, as well as all the railroads.
With the Thursday news that the Seahawks had extended All-Pro defensive lineman Leonard Williams to a three-year, $90 million contract (with $56 million guaranteed), their plan for the rest of the decade is in full focus. The Seahawks clearly believe they can wring out another championship or two with the current make-up of their team (they are probably correct), because why else would they throw out $634 million in new contracts over the last calendar year? For the fun of it? C'mon now. By total guaranteed money, the recent extensions awarded over just the last several weeks to Williams, star cornerback Devon Witherspoon, and arguably the NFL's best receiver in Jaxon Smith-Njigba come out to over $273 million.
That's, uh, a lot of cheddar. Let's put it this way: If the Seahawks didn't think they could wrack up a dynasty of sorts, they wouldn't be handing out proverbial blank checks like this all at once. (Note: It would also be a lot harder to spend this money if quarterback Sam Darnold wasn't on such a team-friendly contract. But here we are!)

#seahawks #money #championship #rest

By Sinéad Carew and Iain Withers
NEW YORK/LONDON, Aug 24 (Reuters) - MSCI's global equities gauge lost ground on Monday as weakness in technology stocks offset support from a dip in U.S. Treasury yields and falling oil prices.
Oil prices fell more than $2 per barrel as traders shrugged off U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's announcement of ‌an expansion of secondary sanctions that Washington can impose on entities and countries that maintain business ties with Iran as the U.S. significantly ratchets up economic pressure on ‌Tehran, nearly six months into their war.
Longer-dated U.S. Treasury yields fell following a report that the Treasury Department may tap its cash account to finance increased debt buybacks. In currencies, the Canadian dollar dipped due to a looming U.S. trade war.
While most of the S&P 500's industry sectors finished Monday's session with gains, heavyweight technology led losses among the benchmark's three declining sectors, with a 1.6% drop.

#treasury #prices #sectors

Joey Porter Jr. has earned a raise. The Pittsburgh Steelers, however, are reticent to make him the league's highest-paid cornerback.
While the two sides may simply be playing hardball in negotiations, NFL insider Ian Rapoport suggests a trade could be imminent. While Porter was the 32nd pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, that was also the year the Miami Dolphins were docked a first round pick for tampering -- making the son of the Steelers star the first selection of Day 2. That's important, because it also means there's no fifth-year team option on his rookie contract, making 2026 the final season he's bound to Pittsburgh.
The Steelers could opt to let him play out 2026 and recoup a third-round compensatory pick in 2028 should he leave in free agency. They could choose to franchise tag him next spring in hopes of working out an extension. They could take a look at their devolving quarterback situation and opt to invest in the defense, paying Porter something short of Devon Witherspoon's $33 million per year and work out a long-term deal with a player who's been a Pro Bowl snub in at least two of his three seasons.
Or they could opt to deal him should a team be willing to part with a first round pick to bring him aboard. Who'd fit the bill?
Washington overhauled its defense this spring and could have a majority of new starters on that side of the ball. Adding Porter Jr. would punch up a pass defense that finished 31st in dropback expected points added (EPA) allowed. He'd also move Mike Sainristil into the slot, where he's been more effective as a pro, and give the team some insurance should Trey Amos struggle in his second season as a pro.

#steelers #first #round #making

By Iain Withers and Wayne Cole
LONDON/SYDNEY, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Global stocks slipped on Monday and oil prices eased as investors awaited details of threatened U.S. sanctions on Iran, while the Canadian dollar dipped as a trade war loomed with its southern neighbour.
U.S. Treasury ‌Secretary Scott Bessent is due to hold a press conference later on Monday to outline sanctions on Iran, which has shown no sign ‌of relinquishing its control over the vital Strait of Hormuz.
Oil futures were down more than 1% ahead of the announcement as some oil traders took profits after big gains last week. [O/R]
The tech sector was on edge for Nvidia's results on Wednesday; investors are aware how hard it will be for the chipmaker to meet stratospheric expectations.

#Iran #investors #sanctions #sydney

Patriots' Christian Gonzalez Gets $35M Contract 'Benchmark' From ESPN originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
After it was announced that Devon Witherspoon of the Seattle Seahawks agreed to a 4-year, $132 million contract, all of the attention instantly turned to New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez.
Gonzalez and Witherspoon have often been compared in recent years, as there's a strong argument that the two young men are the best at the position in the NFL.
However, Witherspoon signing that contract before Gonzalez is likely to raise the price for the Patriots. According to the latest report from Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the Patriots are likely looking at $35 million per year on a new deal to get something done.
"You've got Witherspoon at $33 million a year, Gonzalez is going to need to top that. That's the play," Fowler said, H/T FanSided.

#Patriots

By Karen Brettell and Iain Withers
NEW YORK, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Longer-dated global bond yields retreated from multi-decade highs, the dollar tumbled and gold jumped on Wednesday after the U.S. Treasury Department said it would boost liquidity support for longer-dated securities, following a broad selloff fueled by fears over swelling sovereign debt.
The U.S. Treasury ‌Department said it would double the size of liquidity support buyback operations for longer-dated nominal coupon securities to at least $4 billion per operation from $2 billion.
U.S. long-dated government yields ‌fell by as much as 10 basis points, dragging European government bond yields down too. U.S. long bonds had hit their highest in nearly 20 years on Tuesday, at nearly 5.34%, reflecting growing concerns about inflation and high debt.
"It is the first of many possible actions that the Treasury could take to support the long end," said Gennadiy Goldberg, head of U.S. rates strategy at TD Securities. "A more permanent measure would be lowering long-end auction sizes."

#treasury #longer #support #bond

In what has become an increasingly common chapter in high-profile NFL contract negotiation sagas, Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. is now the subject of trade rumors, according to insider Jordan Schultz.
"Joey Porter Jr. is a name multiple teams around the NFL have wondered about as a potential trade target, per source," Schultz posted late Thursday. "(Porter) is in the final year of his rookie contract, and with where the CB market is, teams have wondered if Pittsburgh could ultimately be open to a move with the Pro Bowl caliber corner."
The Steelers have completed contract extensions with three members of the team's 2023 draft class already this offseason with Nick Herbig, Darnell Washington and most recently Keeanu Benton landing new deals. And with the top of the cornerback market now solidly over $30 million per year on average — the Seahawks' Devon Witherspoon recently signed a four-year, $132 million extension — Porter's asking price is expected to be well above what his teammates received.
Porter remains under contract in 2026, but started camp on the physically unable to perform list with a reported back injury.
Schultz's wording is vague in the report, not mentioning if the Steelers have any interest in trading the 26-year-old defensive back, and it doesn't seem to mention that any team has reached out to Pittsburgh, either.

#pittsburgh #trade

Buffalo Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson seems to have gotten some brutal trolling in at Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders during a joint practice between the Bills and Browns on Thursday in Ohio.
As Sanders dukes it out with Deshaun Watson for the team's top quarterback job, Gardner-Johnson yelled "check-down king" in Sanders' direction while the latter was on the sideline during the joint practice, per Browns reporter Tom Withers.
While Gardner-Johnson wasn't practicing, he seems to have still wanted to get in Sanders' head. While he didn't say it directly to his face, it sure seems like the trolling was directed at the former Colorado quarterback.
We're not else who this trolling would have been for unless Watson was also on the sideline. The fact that Withers pointed directly to Sanders makes us think he was the only quarterback in the area.
Sanders could possibly win the job in Cleveland, even if Watson may have the edge right now.

#Browns #quarterback #bills

As the No. 1 overall pick in this year's NFL Draft, Fernando Mendoza has a lot of expectations to meet. Long-suffering Las Vegas Raiders fans are hoping he is the franchise quarterback they have been sorely lacking, though the organization itself has been taking things slowly with the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner.
Longtime NFL Network ******* yst and former NFL head coach Steve Mariucci knows some things about quarterback play, having worked with the likes of Brett Favre and Steve Young. In a new interview with Alex Withers for Casino.org, Mariucci revealed his feelings on Mendoza and his future.
Mariucci told Withers he's a "fan" of Mendoza and believes he'll be "the man to watch this season."
"I'm watching him closely coming out of this draft to see when he plays and then how well he plays," Mariucci explained. "It's going to be a baptism by fire. It's going to be hard for him but he's my standout pick for the season based on raw talent."
The Raiders have posted four consecutive losing seasons and went 7-27 in 2024 and 2025. The organization is starting over with first-year coach Klint Kubiak, and is banking on Mendoza being a long-term solution.

#organization

As the San Francisco 49ers prepare for their trip down under to Australia to face off with Myles Garrett and the Los Angeles Rams, all eyes are on George Kittle and his ambitious timeline of Week 1 for a return from his torn Achilles. The injury suffered during the 49ers' Wild Card win over the Philadelphia Eagles late last year has varying timelines of recovery.
Kittle has been seen running and cutting while working on the side field during training camp. A Week 1 return would be remarkable, but former 49ers head coach Steve Mariucci is doubtful about that timeline.
Mariucci sat down with Alex Withers and spoke about Kittle, Nick Bosa, and Christian McCaffrey.
"George Kittle seems very optimistic. I've spent a lot of time with him, but he's not there yet. I don't know if he'll be ready for the first game. Heck, he tore that Achilles in the playoffs, so that might be too quick of a turnaround. It could be an issue for them offensively."
While speculation has run rampant about Kittle and his chances for Week 1, it is nice to hear from someone who spent time with Kittle. Kittle remains optimistic that he won't begin the season on PUP, but a long flight to Australia could force the 49ers to be cautious with their tight end.

#week #down #timeline #return

Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon's approach to the game over his first three seasons landed him a big new contract this month.
Witherspoon became the highest-paid player at the position when he agreed to a four-year, $132 million extension. The agreement came a few months after his fellow 2023 first-round pick Jaxon Smith-Njigba landed a huge deal of his own and the two deals cement the players as franchise cornerstones as they come off their Super Bowl win.
During a Monday press conference, Witherspoon was asked if that kind of commitment adds pressure or takes pressure off of him as he heads into the season. Witherspoon fell somewhere in the middle because his feeling is that it won't change anything about his approach to the game.
"I think it's a little bit of both, but I don't think it does nothing to me," Witherspoon said. "I'm going to be me every day. Ain't nothing going to change about me, so I don't really see it no type of way."
Witherspoon's approach has been a winning one so far and not breaking something that doesn't need fixing should be a popular opinion about how to approach the 2026 campaign.

#witherspoon #approach

The news that the Seahawks and cornerback Devon Witherspoon reached agreement on a contract extension over the weekend was celebrated in Seattle and it caught the attention of many people in New England as well.
Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez is also in the market for a new deal and a common reaction to Witherspoon's extension was that it paves the way for Gonzalez to get his own contract situation settled. Gonzalez has not been practicing for the last week, which the Patriots have said is due to a physical issue and head coach Mike Vrabel said on Monday that he thinks the corner's case is not directly tied to Witherspoon.
"Everything is pretty unique to itself," Vrabel said. "Whether that's negotiations, players, the play that we're running — certainly those are unique and individual situations. We'll try to focus on Christian's and I know he'll focus on his own situation. We'll continue to work through that and he'll continue to try to improve and try to get back out on the field."
Gonzalez and Witherspoon share an agent, so there's some link between the cases of two players who will wind up at the top of the pay scale at the position even if it might not be as easy as dominos falling one after another. For now, though, Gonzalez remains off the field as the Patriots prepare for their Week 1 trip to see Witherspoon and the Seahawks.

#gonzalez #witherspoon #vrabel #extension

The Seattle Seahawks recently announced their intention to sign free-agent cornerback Terrion Arnold. The former first-round pick was released by the Detroit Lions after news surfaced that he'd be facing eight felony charges for kidnapping and robbery with an armed weapon. **** uming Arnold ends up joining the Seahawks, he'll fill an immediate need that was exposed in Week 1 of the preseason.
The Seahawks were defeated 17-7 by the Dallas Cowboys. Predictably, the cornerback depth was exposed. Depth behind Devon Witherspoon and Josh Jobe has been questioned by fans all offseason long, and Arnold would represent a pretty big upgrade.
Shemar Jean-Charles especially struggled, allowing four receptions on five targets for 78 yards and a touchdown, per Pro Football Focus. Rookie Michael Dansby was also tagged with allowing a touchdown in coverage. Fellow rookie Andre Fuller gave up three catches on three targets.
The Seahawks do not have in-house solutions should Witherspoon or Jobe be sidelined with injury for any amount of time. If the Arnold signing is finalized amidst his off-field legal troubles, the Seahawks will have a depth cornerback they can rely on (at least on the field). The preseason exposed an issue we knew Seattle had, and Arnold could address that issue.
This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Terrion Arnold should immediately fill Seahawks need preseason exposed

#exposed #depth #cornerback #terrion

Patriots' Christian Gonzalez Could Have New Deal 'Faster' After $132M News originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Amid contract discussions between Christian Gonzalez and the New England Patriots, it's worth looking at other players in the league when they get deals.
It was announced on Saturday that Seattle Seahawks star Devon Witherspoon agreed to a four-year, $132 million deal with the organization.
Witherspoon has been one of the best corners in the NFL since entering the league in 2023, often compared to a guy like Gonzalez because both players are so talented and young. This is a good benchmark for what the young Patriots corner might receive on his new deal, though it still remains uncertain when something will get done.
While many questions remain about what type of deal Gonzalez will get and how long it will take, the latest report suggests it could come faster than some realize after Witherspoon's deal, according to Albert Breer.

#gonzalez

Our beloved Seattle Seahawks played their first preseason game of the 2026 season and lost. In doing so, they did not look particularly unbeatable, which is to be expected of a team looking to fill depth on the roster. The discourse before yesterday was centered on the hopeful and expected improvement of young Jalen Milroe and a developing skill set. The reviews are in and people are talking. Did you watch the game yesterday? If so, what did you think about Jalen Milroe's performance? Where would you like to see improvement? Who else stood out to you on the field yesterday? Anybody unexpected look fantastic to you? Let us know in the comments below. Thanks for being here. Happy Monday. Go, 'Hawks!
#np Sleep Standing Up by The Weather
Seahawks-Cowboys: Jalen Milroe Needs to Learn How to Throw an Interception – Seaside Joe
A quarterback rotation and Milroe's hesitancy to be a passer give Seattle serious questions to answer by final cuts
What stood out from Seahawks' preseason opener – Seattle Sports
Tyrice Knight and Montorie Foster Jr. were among Seattle's standouts, while Jalen Milroe had a mixed performance.
Seahawks Agree To Terms With CB Devon Witherspoon On Contract Extension – Seahawks.com
The Seahawks agreed to terms with Pro-Bowl cornerback Devon Witherspoon to a contract extension on Saturday.

#seahawks #jalen #milroe #terms

The Seattle Seahawks lost to the Dallas Cowboys 17-7 on Saturday night, but the true takeaways reside in the lessons we learned. There might be no more relevant week to prioritize takeaways than preseason. You didn't need to win. You did need to come away with as many ways to improve your team as possible. Here were the five most obvious lessons.
First, the running back rotation ended up being fairly varied like I predicted, but George Holani received 12 carries. Velus Jones Jr. took 7, TJ Harden took 2, and Justin Jones took 1. None of Emanuel Wilson, Zach Charbonnet, and Jadarian Price played, with both of the latter two likely to supplant Holani at some point this season when they return from injury. Until then, though, last year's third-stringer Holani will start. Price will likely be back in the near future and regular season, might also need to show pass-blocking prowess to earn the every-down workhorse role some might envision.
While the rather excellent episode two of Hard Knocks has been the talk of the town the past week, the tape will reflect the team's focus on managing and controlling violence. Derick Hall was coaching up Jalan Gaines, who was relentlessly attacking Dallas' quarterbacks, and Mason Richman and Beau Stephens were taking the competition to the Dallas' defensive line, both getting great downhill push in the run game. The young offensive lineman are a product of the culture Mike Macdonald and company have created and prioritized.
Jalen Milroe is a good quarterback prospect who the Seahawks can just keep waiting in the wings until they might need him, and he showed enough improvement tonight compared to last preseason to justify the draft capital they spent on him. They won the Super Bowl, but they might end up with an extremely interesting ***** et here the longer he's allowed to wait. He's 23, has 1st-round level athleticism, and is hitting the middle of the field consistently. Watch out.
I know, you could say any DB is a perfect fit here and be right, but Arnold's first-round athletic profile seems like an anti-Puka Nacua device. Having both him and Devon Witherspoon would be such a ridiculous blend of aggression and athleticism with Nick Emmanwori and Julian Love, and although Josh Jobe has played great too, the team clearly needs more experienced depth behind them outside.

#might #need #took

Newly minted Devon Witherspoon — who agreed to a record $132 million contract extension with $101 million guaranteed Saturday morning — plus Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Sam Darnold, Cooper Kupp, Leonard Williams and the Super Bowl-champion starters did pregame warmups in full pads.
All 22 expected starters on offense and defense when Seattle begins defense of its Super Bowl **** le Sept. 9 in the NFL season opener against New England on this same field watched this preseason game from the sideline in their jerseys, no pads and white team caps.
The fullest action the starters are likely to get this preseason will be Friday when they scrimmage the Tennessee **** ans' starters in a joint practice in Nashville.
They spent Saturday night running off the sideline, jumping up and down and celebrating big plays by their backups.
One of the two biggest one was wide receiver Rashad Rochelle's 52-yard punt return weaving through Cowboys late in the third quarter. Middle linebacker Ernest Jones and Witherspoon were the first Seahawks off the sideline to congratulate Rochelle, an undrafted rookie from Indiana State. Jones slapped at him with a towel.

#million #pads