Drafted with the fifth overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, Devon Witherspoon has been as good as advertised for the Seattle Seahawks. Every aspect of Witherspoon's college game that led him to become a top-five pick has seamlessly translated to the NFL. In his first two seasons in the league, Spoon has made two Pro Bowls.
That statistic is historic for Witherspoon and the Seahawks, as the franchise has never had a cornerback make the Pro Bowl in both of his first two seasons after being drafted by the team. As Corbin Smith pointed out on X, Spoon is the first Seahawk to ever do it. He joins five other Seahawks, including Russell Wilson and Lofa Tatupu, as the only Seahawks to ever make the Pro Bowl in their first two seasons.
Spoon was the only Seahawk to be named to the 2024 Pro Bowl, although Leonard Williams, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Julian Love, Boye Mafe, and Michael Dickson were made alternates. His Pro Bowl selection this season came after a 90 tackle, 7 pass breakup season, which is historic in itself.
Devon Witherspoon made Seattle Seahawks history this season
He is the first cornerback in Seattle history with 90+ tackles in a season. And his tackles don't come from being beat in coverage. Witherspoon makes a good chunk of his tackles either at the line of scrimmage or in the open field in zone.
Aside from the 90 tackles and 7 PBUs, Spoon's coverage stats aren't exactly eye-popping. With no interceptions on the season, those who didn't watch much Seattle football this season were left wondering how he was voted in over their favorite cornerbacks who had multiple interceptions. The only answer is that you have to watch the tape.
Those of us who watch the Seahawks every week know how valuable Devon Witherspoon is, not just in coverage. The closest thing to Witherspoon is Earl Thomas, who played with effort and speed from sideline to sideline, always putting himself in position to make a play.
Witherspoon, who recorded a Seahawks cornerback record six tackles for loss in 2024, is not your average cornerback. As a rookie, Spoon was moved inside to the nickel in training camp. Normally, that would be a bad omen for a cornerback drafted fifth overall. But Spoon is not normal.
The reason he was moved inside is because his play is so impactful, the coaches actually wanted him closer to the play so he can use his athleticism and pursuit to make plays at and behind the line of scrimmage. As good as Richard Sherman was in coverage and even making open-field tackles, I could never imagine Seattle shifting him inside to make those plays.
As an observer in person, the tape and television broadcast doesn't do Spoon justice. I, unfortunately, was in attendance the day after Christmas as the Seahawks visited rainy, freezing Chicago. Amidst the 6-3 slugfest, one player stood out to me and the casual Bears fans in my section.
Devon Witherspoon was all over the place. "Who is 21?" was overheard several times from the frustrated Chicago faithful as Witherspoon made play after play both in the backfield and in the open field. Witherspoon ended that game with three tackles for loss and a sack.
While Spoon finished 2024 with fewer interceptions and PBUs than he had in his rookie season last year, he grew in other areas of his game. Spoon allowed only one touchdown on the year, after allowing five in his rookie year. He also finished with 14 more tackles than he did last year. Spoon also continued with his impressive quarterback pressures off the blitz, causing multiple turnovers off his pressures.
The most impressive portion of his game in 2024, however, was the hustle and effort he showed. On several occasions, Witherspoon led the pack with key blocks that sprung turnovers into touchdowns. He is what coach Mike Macdonald calls "a force multiplier" and someone who is a "leader" on defense.
For a player who just turned 24 years old last month, Devon Witherspoon is playing way ahead of his age. In just two years, Spoon has made mistakes, fixed those mistakes, grown his game, made himself versatile, and has set records that may never be broken. Witherspoon has solidified himself as one of the best players on this defense, and one of the most impressive players in franchise history, and we're only two years into this thing.