Devon Witherspoon was selected to the Pro Bowl and finished fourth in the 2023 Defensive Rookie of the Year voting after the Seahawks selected him fifth overall. He could have been better.
The cornerback missed three games due to a hip pointer.
He plans to be healthier and in better shape this season.
“First of all, I I want to play all the games“I played well throughout the season,” Witherspoon said, via the team website’s John Boyle , “I missed a few games last year, so I’m just trying to get the whole season healthy and get better this year. I left a lot of plays behind that I didn’t get to make, so I’m just trying to make those plays this year.”
Witherspoon recorded one interception, 79 tackles, three sacks, one forced fumble and 16 pass breakups in his first season, proving why the Seahawks drafted him in the top five.
He’s been a more vocal leader this offseason and may even see the “C” on his uniform this season.
“I think he’s doing a great job, just being vocal,” receiver Jackson Smith-Njiva said. “To me he looks like a defensive captain, making sure everybody’s lined up and being more vocal from year one to year two. He’s great. A phenomenal player, all-pro. I’m a big fan of his so I’m really excited to see him step up physically.”
“He’s getting bigger and bigger. He’s got more speed, more poise and more intelligence. He plays very fast and we all know how physical he is in the run game against guys with the ball in his hands. We’re happy to have him on our team.”