Seahawks Lock up Star Defender With Massive $90 Million Extension
The Seahawks just locked up one of their star defenders with a huge $90 million extension to keep him around for years to come.
The Seattle Seahawks have secured a Super Bowl-winning defense by locking up star defensive tackle Leonard Williams with a massive three-year, $90 million extension. Coach Mike Macdonald spearheaded the physical, suffocating defense that propelled the team to victory in the 2014 Super Bowl. In recent months, the Seahawks have prioritized retaining their key players who contributed to that success.
First, they signed All-Pro cornerback Devon Witherspoon to a four-year, $132 million deal, making him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL at an average of $33 million per season. Now, they've reached an agreement with Pro Bowl defensive tackle Leonard Williams, who will be earning $30 million annually, tying him with Vita Vea for the fifth-highest salary at his position in the league.
Williams, drafted sixth overall in 2015 from USC, spent four and a half seasons with the Jets before moving to the Giants, where he played an additional four and a half seasons before joining Seattle. Since joining the Seahawks in 2023, Williams has amassed 167 total tackles, 34 tackles for loss, 61 quarterback hits, and 22 sacks across 43 games.
He has earned two consecutive Pro Bowl selections and second-team All-Pro honors last season, while anchoring a Seahawks defensive line that led to the franchise's first Super Bowl win since 2013. At 32 years old, Williams continues to prove himself as one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL, securing his place in Seattle through the 2029 season.
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