Seahawks' Devon Witherspoon Receives High Praise from Super Bowl CB

The Seattle Seahawks had two first-round picks in the NFL Draft (No. 5 & No. 20), and it was Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon who the franchise took first.

Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter was thought to be on the franchise's radar, but Witherspoon got the call. Now the Seahawks have a great pairing at cornerback with Tariq Woolen nailing down his spot in the secondary.

With many high on Witherspoon's potential, we can add another, and this one comes with some credentials - Super Bowl-winning cornerback Jason McCourty. He picked Witherspoon to be his breakout candidate next season.

“Devon Witherspoon, the first guy that came off the board, I love watching this guy because he can cover,” McCourty said on Good Morning Football. “Gave up zero touchdowns last year, but my goodness he doesn’t mind a hit, running back, quarterback it doesn’t matter shoot the hips get them on the ground Mr. Witherspoon. That’s what you love to see from a DB.”

That is high praise from a cornerback who played 13 seasons in the NFL. 

With the addition of Witherspoon, the Seahawks' secondary is getting a physical corner who can also take the ball away. Pairing him with Woolen gives Seattle a strong pairing that can plays when the ball is thrown in their direction.

If Woolen and Witherspoon can lock down their respective sides of the field, then the Seahawks' pass rush - which ranked eighth in sacks last season (45) - can pin its ears back and go after the quarterback.

Will Witherspoon be the breakout candidate McCourty sees? Time will tell.