The 2023 NFL Draft once again featured some top defensive talent in the first round. While we did see more quarterbacks go earlier than in the previous draft we also saw several difference-makers on the defensive side. In the 2022 NFL Draft, the first 5 picks were all defensive players and they all made a significant impact. Sauce Gardner ended up winning the 2022 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and rightfully so. Can another cornerback win the award this year? Let’s break down some of the key candidates.

Devon Witherspoon – CB (Seattle Seahawks)

Witherspoon was the first cornerback taken in the 2023 NFL Draft and he went to a great situation. Head coach Pete Carroll is known to develop young defensive talent and turn them into stars. Unfortunately, Witherspoon has dealt with a hamstring injury for much of training camp which has dampened his buzz. Make no mistake though when he comes back healthy, he will be a stud for Seattle.

Current Odds: +1000

Tyree Wilson – EDGE (Las Vegas Raiders)

Like Witherspoon, Tyree Wilson is also dealing with an injury to start his rookie season. Wilson is an athletic freak at the EDGE position and has the tools to be an elite pass rusher. The thought of him lined up opposite Maxx Crosby is frightening for opposing offenses. I see 5+ sacks for Wilson in his first season for the Raiders.

Current Odds: +1000

Will Anderson Jr. – EDGE (Houston Texans)

If the Chicago Bears didn’t trade out of the first pick they would’ve selected Will Anderson. Anderson is another stud defensive player from the University of Alabama. He was a dominant force in the SEC totaling 27.5 sacks in his last two seasons. Anderson is not only an elite pass rusher but he is also an excellent run defender. Along with his sacks he had 152 total tackles in his Sophomore and Junior seasons. Anderson Jr. is the most pro-ready prospect from this draft and he will get 10+ sacks this year.

* Our Pick – Current Odds: +400

Jalen Carter – DL (Philadelphia Eagles)

Somehow Jalen Carter fell to the Eagles in the 2023 NFL Draft. Carter is another stud SEC defender who was dominant at Georgia. The off the field issues are a concern but if Carter can stay out of trouble he will make a big impact in Philly. Pairing him with one of the top defenses in 2022 seems almost unfair. I could see Carter starting when the season begins.

Current Odds: +700

Emmanuel Forbes Jr. – CB (Washington Commanders)

Emmanuel Forbes was a turnover machine for Mississippi State. He broke the all-time record for pick-sixes with 6 during his college career. The tall and lanky cornerback plays much bigger than his size and is more than willing to make a tackle when needed. Forbes will get plenty of chances to make his mark as he is expected to start for the Commanders in week 1. Expect to see 5 interceptions for Forbes in his rookie season.

Current Odds: +2000

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BACKGROUND

Devon Witherspoon is a cornerback prospect out of Florida. He had a peculiar high school career as he only played for two years. He only started football as a junior and it turned out to be the right move. In his second year of playing football, he recorded 74 tackles, seven interceptions, and a couple of TDs. Rivals didn’t list him as any star prospect, but he took the chance and committed to play for the University of Illinois.

COLLEGE CAREER

Devon was able to play in all 13 games for Illinois as he racked up 33 total tackles. His second season was even better as he collected 33 total tackles and two interceptions in seven games. After a shortened season, he put up career highs in multiple stats in his junior season. He had 52 total tackles and a sack in 10 starts.

2022-2023 COLLEGE CAREER

In his final year, Devon was one of the best defensive backs in all of college football. In 738 snaps, he had 42 total tackles and three interceptions. The best stat in my opinion is that when being targeted, the QBR was just 24.6. He earned numerous All-American awards and was praised often for his unique route to his NFL dream.

STRENGTHS: Intelligence

He has good anticipation on passes and he can read receivers’ routes very well. He also has the ability to read the quarterbacks’ eyes and can make quick decisions when the ball is thrown. Man coverage is where he shines as he believes he can handle any wide receiver that lines up against him.

WEAKNESSES: Too Aggressive At Times

The problem with his intelligence is that he often targets the big plays. By being overaggressive, he sometimes gets penalized for it a bit too much and needs to catch up for the tackle. This will be a possible problem once he faces the bigger WRs in the NFL. He needs to improve also in press coverage.

PLAYER COMPARISON: Levi Wallace

TEAMS WHO COULD DRAFT HIM

A team will be lucky to have their hands on Devon Witherspoon. He is consistently ranked as a top-three cornerback in this draft. Some have him before the top 10 while others have him in the later first half of the draft. A sneaky team could be the Raiders at seven who need to shore up on defense.

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