Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon falls behind in the competition for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
For the second consecutive season, the Seattle Seahawks find themselves with a rookie cornerback vying for the title of Defensive Rookie of the Year. However, for the second year in a row, the Seahawks fell short of securing a winner, as last season’s fifth-round pick, Riq Woolen, did not clinch the award.
The 2023 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year honor ultimately went to Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr., who outperformed Seahawks rookie cornerback Devon Witherspoon. Witherspoon faced stiff competition in a five-player contest that included Jalen Carter (Philadelphia Eagles), Joey Porter Jr. (Pittsburgh Steelers), and Kobie Turner (Los Angeles Rams).
Selected as the No. 5 overall pick from Illinois in the 2023 NFL Draft, Witherspoon lived up to the high expectations associated with his draft position. Despite contending with injuries during training camp and preseason, leading to him missing Week 1, he made a strong impression upon his return.
Throughout the season, Witherspoon, though inactive for three games, compiled impressive statistics, totaling 79 tackles, eight tackles for loss, four quarterback hits, three sacks, one forced fumble, 16 passes defended, and an interception. Notably, he returned the interception for a 97-yard touchdown in Seattle’s Week 4 victory over the New York Giants.
With a new head coach in Mike Macdonald, the Seahawks may have the opportunity to add another first-round talent to their secondary alongside Witherspoon in the upcoming April draft, holding the No. 16 overall pick. Looking ahead, there’s speculation that the Seahawks could once again have a Defensive Rookie of the Year finalist in the following February.
