Devon Witherspoon is a slot corner for the Seattle Seahawks, but as 12s well know, he is so much more than that. He doesn't just stick at nickelback, as he is extremely good at rushing the passer, and he can play outside as needed. He is one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL because of his versatility.
This means Seattle could take another corner in the 2025 NFL draft who is a lot like Witherspoon. While it might appear that the Seahawks would have two nickels, they would have two versatile corners who can play outside as well. Having this would allow Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald to disguise his defenses better.
Where would Witherspoon and the rookie line up on any given play, for instance? The fun Macdonald would have with that would be immeasurable.
Seahawks taking Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron in the first round would not be a shock
What the Seahawks will do in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft is anyone's guess. General manager John Schneider likes to keep fans and reporters guessing because it means other teams choosing behind the Seahawks have to do the same. Perhaps another team is willing to trade and let Seattle move down if they are not sure what the Seahawks will do.
And in 2025, even taking a cornerback in the first round is not off the table for Schneider and Seattle. That is especially true if the cornerback is Texas's Jahdae Barron. According to Fantasy Life, Barron is a Witherspoon clone, which means he should be a versatile piece with elite coverage skills.
Barron is plenty fast and ran a 4.39 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, and had a 35" vertical leap. He was also ultra-productive for the Longhorns, recording five interceptions in 2024, as well as one sack. The single sack might not be significant compared to an edge rusher, but knowing Barron can pressure passers will be enticing to Schneider and Macdonald.
He also excelled in run support. In 2022, he had 11.5 tackles for loss, and in 2023, he had 4.5 more. His role was slightly different in 2024, which meant he caused more disruption in coverage than attacking the line of scrimmage. He can do both well.
Barron's weakness might be that he didn't see many snaps in man coverage. The good part for the Seahawks is that Macdonald does not rely on that to make his defense great. Barron could fit into zone, use his fantastic abilities to read what the offense is trying to do, and create chaos beside Witherspoon and Riq Woolen.
He is 5'11" and nearly 200 pounds, so he is not as tall as Witherspoon, but only by an inch. Having both in the defensive backfield would make the unit dynamic. Mike Macdonald would find a way to make it dangerous.