With Seahawks training camp kicking off next week, Seahawks.com is taking a look at 10 of the most intriguing storylines, position battles and players heading into the 2024 season. So far, we've taken a look at special teams, tight end, safety, running back, inside linebacker, receiver and quarterback, and today we focus on cornerback and the potential for Devon Witherspoon to do big things in Mike Macdonald's defense. Check back tomorrow when we turn our attention to the offensive line and the battle for starting jobs at center and guard.
Key Cornerback Additions: Nehemiah Pritchett (draft), D.J. James (draft).
Key Cornerback Departures: none.
In 2022, the Seahawks drafted a cornerback, Riq Woolen, who went on to earn Pro-Bowl honors as a rookie. A year later, another rookie cornerback, first-round pick Devon Witherspoon, was also a Pro-Bowl selection, and like Woolen, a candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
So it's no surprise that, heading into the 2024 season, cornerback is looking like a position of strength for the Seahawks. And it isn't just those two Pro-Bowlers that have the Seahawks excited about the position. Tre Brown, a 2021 draft pick, missed much of his first two seasons due to injury, but had a strong 2023 season, recording six passes defensed, two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown, two forced fumbles and 34 tackles while appearing in 15 games with seven starts. The Seahawks also have experienced veterans like Michael Jackson, a starter in 2022 and Artie Burns; a versatile defensive back in Coby Bryant, the team's starting nickel in 2022 before Witherspoon's arrival who has also put in extensive work at safety; and despite all that depth, they added two more cornerbacks in the draft, Nehemiah Pritchett and D.J. James, because the value was just too good to pass up with those two still available when they were.
Add it all up and cornerback figures to be one of the deepest and most talented position groups in training camp.
"We are really excited about our secondary, and I think there is some flexibility there," Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said. "We can get some personnel groups for guys moving around, play matchup ball a little bit. They're in a good spot."
In addition to the abundance of talent at cornerback, that position group is also one to watch in camp because there is plenty of intrigue about how players will be used. As a rookie, Witherspoon played both left cornerback and nickel, and he thrived playing inside where his instincts and physicality could really shine. Signs point to him once again playing inside, and it's hard not to get excited about what Macdonald might be able to do with a player as talented as Witherspoon, especially after seeing Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton have so much success under Macdonald last year. Granted Witherspoon and Hamilton are different players both in size and style, but both have the type of versatility and playmaking ability to shine in a scheme like Macdonald's.
"Spoon is a great player," defensive lineman Leonard Williams said. "When I got traded here in the middle of the season last year, I was just like, 'Dang, who is this guy?' He does have just very outrageous energy and in a great way and also for a small guy, he plays very physical and rowdy. He almost reminds me of a defensive lineman or something like that. Defensive linemen have certain personalities. Corners are usually quieter guys, they're more finesse guys a lot of times where it's like this guy wants to put his face in there, get dirty, and I love seeing that in the secondary. Going into this season, what I was just talking about, all the multiple guys we have up front and then knowing that we have those guys in the back end, I'm really excited about playing in this defense honestly."
iAdded safety Rayshawn Jenkins, a free-agent signing this offseason, "He's a really talented young player for him to not be the biggest guy. He plays with a lot of heart out there, you can see it even from here. I was just thinking about this today actually, but his breaking on the ball is just elite. It's some of the best I've probably ever seen. I was literally just thinking about it today. I saw him break up two passes and the receiver had a step or two on him and closing speed is crazy. He just gets right to the ball, undercuts the ball. He's going to make a lot of plays as he has been doing coming off of last season."
While Witherspoon's precise role is still to be determined, it's a safe bet he will be an every-down player, and Woolen, who battled injuries last season and saw his production slip a bit from his standout rookie season, had a strong offseason and looks like a lock to hold down another starting job. Brown heads into camp as the leader to be the outside corner opposite Woolen when the Seahawks are in nickel or dime, with Witherspoon inside, but there are plenty of other talented corners who will push for roles on defense as well.
Another potential wrinkle hinted at by assistant head coach Leslie Frazier is the possibility of Woolen being used to shadow opponents' top receivers. Asked about having cornerbacks do that on the Move the Sticks Podcast, Frazier mentioned not Witherspoon, but rather Woolen as a candidate to travel with receivers, saying, "Hopefully we'll be able to do it with Tariq, and I think we will be."
It will take some time, perhaps into the regular season given the way NFL teams tend to play things close to the vest in the preseason, to fully get a feel for how the Seahawks will use their cornerbacks, but given the talent and versatility at that position, not to mention Macdonald's history of getting the most out of his defensive backs, cornerback should be an exciting position for the Seahawks in 2024.
