Seahawks Pick Illinois CB Devon Witherspoon At No. 5

The Seahawks had kept quiet about the No. 5 pick in the draft, with some pundits suggesting they were eyeing a quarterback or considering a trade. Instead, the team selected one of the draft’s top defenders. With the fifth overall pick, the Seahawks have selected Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon.

Witherspoon was a four-year contributor for the Fighting Illini. He showed off his defensive ability in 2021 when he finished with nine pass breakups, and he replicated that success with 14 PBUs (in addition to three interceptions and 41 tackles) this past year. That performance not only earned Witherspoon an All-American nod but also helped cement him as one of the best cover men in the draft.

Most analysts had either Witherspoon or Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez listed as their top option at the position. Seattle had success in last year’s draft at the CB spot, with fifth-rounder Tariq Woolen earning a Pro Bowl nod as part of a hugely impressive rookie campaign. Witherspoon could join Woolen to give the Seahawks a high-end tandem on the backend for many years to come.

This marks a deviation for the Seahawks, who have traditionally coached up late-round investments at corner while using top resources to stock other positions. With the top pick obtained in the Russell Wilson trade, Pete Carroll‘s team will now pair Woolen with a top-flight coverage prospect.

Seattle was named by many as the team to watch for Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter. The Seahawks’ top need is arguably along the defensive interior, and Carter’s production on the field would have gone a long way in filling that need. Off-the-field concerns had left the team torn on whether selecting him was worth the risk, however, and he remains on the board.

Witherspoon represents solid value for Seattle with their first pick, but the team also has pick No. 20. Plenty of rumors have swirled that they will come away with a quarterback by the time the day is over, though three of the four consensus first-rounders have already been selected. While it will be worth watching how Seattle approaches their other pick, their secondary will be much-improved for the short- and long-term future.