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The Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots squared off in the Super Bowl, and following their clash, two of their players are set for massive paydays.
The Seahawks are in talks with cornerback Devon Witherspoon, while the Patriots are in talks with Christian Gonzalez.
Both are among the best at their respective positions, but factors outside of on-field play are affecting contract talks.
Witherspoon and Gonzalez, apart from sharing the same Super Bowl appearance, are with the same agency, and their contracts, playing the same position, directly impact each other.
Seemingly, the Patriots want to keep him, and he wants to stay, but things are quite tricky with two market-setting contracts in the works.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported on how each player’s contract talks factor in.
“The two sides have been in negotiations for some time, and obviously the Patriots want a new deal for Christian Gonzalez, and he wants a deal, and if he gets one, it would no doubt make him one of the, if not the, highest paid cornerbacks in the NFL,” Rappaport said.
“But it is really not that simple, because there’s another cornerback situation going on in Seattle, with star corner Devin Witherspoon there also, by the way, had the same agent at Wynn Sports.
“The two negotiations have been going on concurrently; it certainly seems like Witherspoon is further along in his negotiation than Gonzalez is in his negotiation.
“The Seahawks have, my understanding, made an offer upwards of $30 million, one that would make Witherspoon among the, if not the, highest paid corner in the NFL. No resolution yet on that deal, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if Witherspoon gets done first, and then Gonzalez gets done at some point shortly after with the market set.”
Gonzalez has been a highly respected leader in the Patriots locker room for years now, and he has made the second-team All-Pro and earned a Pro Bowl appearance.
He has only two interceptions, but his coverage chops mean he is not targeted often. The same can be said for Whiterspoon, who is known for his coverage rather than his playmaking ability on the ball, given he also has two interceptions.
In the modern NFL, teams are coming to value bigger-sample-size coverage cornerbacks over ballhawks who may force more turnovers but give up more big explosive plays.
A decade ago, Gonzalez and Whiterspoon may not get market-setting money, but in the modern age, that is exactly what they will get.
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