Seahawks Training Camp: Devon Witherspoon To Follow Sauce Gardner's Footsteps?

Will Defensive Rookie of the Year go to back-to-back cornerbacks? Seattle Seahawks No. 5 pick Devon Witherspoon is among the leaders in the race.

It's a beautiful time for the NFL. Training camps are underway as players compete for jobs and every team is undefeated.

The Seattle Seahawks are taking the field at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center with an exciting roster and a very healthy attitude after an offseason of changes. Coach Pete Carroll looks to build on a 9-8 season and a Wild Card berth with key additions, including first-round picks cornerback Devon Witherspoon and receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. 

Both enter training camp with high expectations ... But Witherspoon is drawing comparisons to 2022 Defensive Rookie of the Year Sauce Gardner, plus former Seahawk greats Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas.

Just one problem ... Witherspoon is the final player among this year’s 259 draft picks not under contract and is not in uniform on day one of camp. 

Once the contract is signed and Witherspoon is available, the Seahawks hope the ball hawk will lead the 2023 rookies to to a similar success as last year's draft class. Seattle's 2022 rookie class made an impact immediately with starting tackles Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas, Pro Bowl cornerback Tariq Woolen and Offensive Rookie of the Year runner up Kenneth Walker III.

Witherspoon's smothering coverage is one reason why NFL.com ranked him as the No. 2 candidate for 2023 defensive rookie of the year. Houston Texans' Will Anderson Jr. is the frontrunner with the best-odds to win the prestigious award this season as the "most polished pass-rush prospect" in his class.

"While Witherspoon lacks Gardner’s size and length, his instincts and ballhawking talent are every bit as good as Gardner’s," NFL.com wrote. "I’m not sure his long speed matches his timed speed, so there could be some bumps in the road against deep-ball threats, but Witherspoon’s on-ball production is sure to make him one of the favorites."

Seattle's secondary is loaded with talent. Pro-Bowlers Quandre Diggs, Jamal Adams and Woolen along with Michael Jackson and Witherspoon will be fun to watch in training camp as the depth and roles get sorted out. 

The Seahawks defense hopes to continue its improvement with its new players pushing their starters. 

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