Seahawks Face Tough Five-Year Option Decisions

0:00On March 5th, it's been four weeks since the Seattle Seahawks dominated the New England Patriots 29-13 in Super Bowl 60 to claim, the World Championship. That same Sunday marks four years since they traded Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos, bringing back two first-round picks, two second-round picks, and three players including Drew Locke, Noah Fant and Shelby Harris. General manager John Schneider turned those assets into key draft editions like Charles Cross and Boyet Mayfay in 2022, then Devon, with a spoon and dare call in 2023. Noah Fant got his fifth-year option picked up right away, and Cross followed in the 2025 offseason, building a strong young core that's paid off big time. Now the team faces choices on Witherspoon and Jackson Smith and Jigba's fifth-year options heading into the 20-26 offseason, covering 20, 27 salaries. These look like easy calls with their five combined pro bowls in six seasons, especially for Smith and Jigba at a bargain cap hit of about 24, million dollars when top receivers fetch 40 million annually.

1:08The catch is, those options are fully guaranteed upon exercise, triggering the league's funding rule that requires escort deposits around 45, million dollars for the pair in 2027 money. That piles on cash obligations in 2026, right when the Seahawks must hit collective bargaining agreement, minimum spending floors, without, counting toward those totals. The smart play seems to be extending both stars now, with hefty signing bonuses, securing them long-term at better rates while knocking out the cash. Spin requirements in one go and avoiding unnecessary escrow headaches. S-c- Sc- S-c or S-c- S-c-S-c- S-c- S-c-S-c- S-c 4- S-c- S-c- S-c- S-c- S-c5- S-c