Seattle Seahawks select Devon Witherspoon with pick No. 5 in the 2023 NFL Draft
Cornerback Devon Witherspoon is heading to Seattle following his selection by the Seahawks Thursday night.
Cornerback Devon Witherspoon out of Illinois is coming to the Seattle Seahawks following his selection with the No. 5 pick in Thursday's first round of the NFL Draft.
Heading into the draft, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said he was feeling "pretty good" about the cornerback position. But as the minutes wound down on the team's first pick in the draft, it was clear that Witherspoon would be their guy.
Witherspoon was a four-year starter at Illinois, and he brings a level of physicality to a Seahawks defense that was in desperate need of help.
Witherspoon was an under-recruited defensive back (6-foot-1, 180 points). He played in all 13 games his freshman year, recording 33 tackles. After recording 33 tackles and two interceptions in seven games in 2020, Witherspoon had a breakout in 2021, netting 52 tackles, nine passes defended, and one interception. He finished his collegiate career with 42 tackles and three interceptions in 2022.
NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein writes that Witherspoon “plays with anticipation, route feel and a consistent sense of urgency to prevent catches … he plays with ball-hawking eyes and good balance from zone coverage and is very aggressive tackling both after the catch and in run support.”
At least for now, Seattle is adding a piece to its secondary that can help the team on day one. Still, the team has questions on the defensive line, and it must address those concerns with its second first-round pick at 20.
