For the second straight season, the Seattle Seahawks have a rookie cornerback as a finalist for the Defensive Rookie of the Year.
But for the second time in a year, the Seahawks have come up short in boasting a winner after fifth-round pick Riq Woolen lost last season.
Houston Texans linebacker Will Anderson Jr. beat out Seahawks rookie cornerback Devon Witherspoon for the 2023 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. He topped a five-man race that featured Witherspoon, Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter, Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. and Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Kobie Turner.
Witherspoon was the No. 5 overall pick out of Illinois in the 2023 NFL Draft and lived up to the elite expectations that came with it. He battled injuries during training camp and preseason, which forced him to miss Week 1, but quickly impressed upon returning.
He was inactive for three games this season but still managed to finish with 79 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, four quarterback hits, three sacks, one forced fumble, 16 passes defended and one interception, which he returned 97 yards for a touchdown in Seattle's Week 4 win over the New York Giants
Now under head coach Mike Macdonald, the Seahawks could potentially add another first-round talent in the secondary alongside Withersoon this April with the No. 16 overall pick.
Who knows? Maybe the Seahawks will have another DROY finalist this time next February.
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