Standout Seahawks corner deserved AP Defensive Rookie of the Year
One season after drafting Pro Bowl cornerback Riq Woolen in the fifth round, the Seattle Seahawks doubled down, selecting their second consecutive Pro Bowl CB with Devon Witherspoon at No. 5 in 2023.
Witherspoon undeniably had the best season from any rookie corner and landed as a finalist for the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
The impactful rookie didn't win the praise from voters, though, as he finished fourth in the DROY race with only four first-place votes.
The No. 3 overall pick, edge-rusher Will Anderson Jr. of the Houston Texans, took home the honors, leading the ballot with 16 first-place votes — two more than Philadelphia Eagles DT Jalen Carter and Los Angeles Rams DT Kobie Turner, who tied with 14 first-place votes.
The electric rookie corner is not the only Seahawks player to be underrated by the media, as Woolen finished third in the DROY race last season. In 2022, the fifth-round gem had four more interceptions, 20 fewer targets, 12 fewer receptions allowed and a lower completion percentage and passer rating against than New York Jets CB "Sauce" Gardner, who ended up taking home the award.
This season, Witherspoon was more than just the league's best rookie corner. He played as well as any player at his position. In just 14 games, the former Fighting Illini standout tallied 79 total tackles (fourth among rookies), 16 passes defended (fifth in the league), three sacks (leading all rookie corners), one forced fumble and one interception (a pick-six).
The first-year corner might not have received the nod from the media, but teammate and fellow defensive back Jamal Adams called him a "phenomenal football player."
"He's very smart. He's very coachable. He listens. It's a rare find and it's a reason why he's a top-five pick," Adams said, per Gregg Bell of the Tacoma News Tribune.
The stats speak for themselves. Witherspoon not only had statistical advantages over Turner, Carter and Anderson. He also was the only Pro Bowler from the bunch.
Witherspoon was a game-changer for Seattle and remained the team's lone defensive star on the back end of the season. His passion, aggression and energy were reminiscent of the team's "Legion of Boom" era ethos.
The good news for Seahawk fans is that Witherspoon has a long and bright future ahead of him in Seattle. With the defensive-minded Mike Macdonald at the helm the standout corner could be primed for an extraordinary 2024-25 season with aspirations that go beyond a DROY trophy.
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