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Advanced Stat Of The Week: Rookie CB Devon Witherspoon Off To A Great Start

Through six weeks, Seahawks rookie Devon Witherspoon shines amongst first-round selections in the 2023 draft per PFF grading.

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The Illinois alum is currently tied for No. 2 league-wide in passes defensed with seven despite missing the first game of the season with a hamstring injury. In Seattle's Week 6 loss to the Bengals, Witherspoon is credited with allowing just three completions for 14 yards, including holding Cincinnati star wideout Ja'Marr Chase to one reception when lined up against each other. Dalton Wasserman of Pro Football Focus breaks down why Witherspoon is a 'forced to be reckoned with' after playing just four games.

"Devon Witherspoon is morphing into a force to be reckoned with: He stuffed the stat sheet with five total tackles, a pressure and two pass breakups while allowing three catches for just 14 yards against a dangerous Bengals attack."

Wasserman breaks down Witherspoon's dominance in-relation to PFF's grading system, leading the rookie corner group in coverage grade (78.8) by a wide margin.

Overall Rookie Grade: 84.4 (Rank: 1/17)
Principal Opponent: Ja’Marr Chase Week 6 Snaps: 54
Week 6 Grade: 83.0

"Witherspoon is morphing into a force to be reckoned with. He stuffed the stat sheet with five total tackles, a pressure and two pass breakups. He allowed three catches for just 14 yards against a dangerous Bengals attack. Interestingly, Seattle has shifted Witherspoon to the slot over the past two games, and he's responded with a 91.4 overall grade in that span, the best in the NFL. His aggression in run support has solidified a previous weakness. The idea of him and Jamal Adams roaming inside the numbers is going to give offensive coordinators headaches."

Witherspoon joins Houston Texans linebacker Will Anderson Jr. (80.3) and Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter (91.8) as rookies to earn an 80-plus grade on the season. In just four games, Witherspoon showed plenty of reasons why he was the first defensive player selected in April's draft. With so much of the season to go, the attention on Seattle's breakout cornerback will only increase.

Devon Witherspoon is a cornerback for the Seahawks and was drafted No. 5 overall in 2023. Take a look at photos of Witherspoon during his college years at Illinois and so far through his rookie season. Witherspoon was a consensus All-American and Big Ten Tatum–Woodson Defensive Back of the Year in 2022 at Illinois.

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