Seahawks select Devon Witherspoon with No. 5 pick

The Seattle Seahawks selected Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, fifth overall.

Witherspoon is the first corner taken by Seattle in the first round since Kelly Jennings in 2006. The Seahawks saw three quarterbacks and pass-rusher Will Anderson drafted before addressing their secondary at No. 5.

Considered by many to be the top player at his position in the class, the 22-year-old Witherspoon is now expected to start opposite corner Tariq Woolen, who amassed a league-high six interceptions as a fifth-round rookie last year.

Witherspoon set a career high with 14 pass breakups and three interceptions last year at Illinois, whose defense ranked No. 1 in the country in points allowed.

Seattle also bolstered its secondary by giving former New York Giants defensive back Julian Love a two-year, $12-million contract in free agency.

Pre-draft profile

Witherspoon pops on film. He lays the boom as a corner better than just about anyone and has good coverage skills to match. The Illinois product gets his hands on receivers early in press, remains physical through the route, and plays through the ball. That play style is likely to draw some more flags in the NFL, so Witherspoon will need to rein in the physicality just a bit to prevent costing his team. A lack of elite top speed could be part of why Witherspoon is so handsy, but he's not super slow, and he has the technique as a cover man to be an instant impact player if he trusts himself and his coaching. He has the potential to be a mismatch defensive back that can line up all over the secondary.