Seahawks Pre-OTAs Roster Reset: Cornerbacks
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Though the 2023 season remains months away, the NFL never sleeps. And after landing a new 10-player draft class, the Seattle Seahawks have transitioned into phase two of their offseason program with OTAs and minicamps just around the corner.
Doubling down on a cornerback group that played well behind the sensational play of rookie Tariq Woolen and journeyman Mike Jackson a year ago, Seattle invested its top-five selection acquired from the Denver Broncos in the Russell Wilson trade on Illinois star Devon Witherspoon. The hard-hitting, ball-hawking Pensacola, Fla. native will be expected to jump into the lineup right away and take the group to another level, conjuring up memories of the beloved "Legion of Boom."
Transitioning from the frenzy of free agency and the draft to on-field offseason work, where do things stand for Seattle at cornerback? Here's a look at projected starters, backups, a wild card to watch, and what could come next at the position:
Don't miss our roster resets for other positions:
- Safeties
Projected Starters: Tariq Woolen, Devon Witherspoon
After a stunning rookie year in which he tied for the NFL lead with six interceptions, earned a Pro Bowl selection, and finished third in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting, the Seahawks will be banking on Woolen to be even better in his sophomore season. Possessing rare athletic talents, size, and length for the position, it's worth noting that last season was still only the third year he had played cornerback after transitioning from receiver midway through his college career at UTSA and he still had a few botched coverages along the way in 2022. Keeping that in mind, as he continues to learn and become more comfortable with coverage responsibilities and technique, he should only be scratching the surface of his full potential.
Across from Woolen, Seattle won't hand Witherspoon the starting job and like every incoming rookie in Pete Carroll's program, he will have to earn it against quality competition with returning starter Mike Jackson and Tre Brown vying for snaps. But the franchise did not invest a top-five pick in him for the consensus All-American to ride the bench. Considering his blend of man/zone coverage savvy, football instincts, physicality as a tackler, and toughness in run support, it would be a stunner if he wasn't starting on the left side in Week 1.
Backups: Mike Jackson, Tre Brown, Coby Bryant, Isaiah Dunn, Mo Osling III, James Campbell, Lance Boykin, Arquon Bush
Signing his exclusive rights free agent tender in April, Jackson looked poised to stay in the starting lineup at left cornerback following a solid 2022 campaign. Though he only intercepted one pass, he amassed 75 tackles, two fumble recoveries, and 11 pass breakups, proving himself a capable NFL starter after bouncing around with multiple teams in his first couple years in the league. While his chances of starting again took a huge hit with Witherspoon's arrival via the draft, he's not going to go to the sideline without putting up a fight.
The same can be said for Brown, who will benefit from a full offseason after rehabbing all of last summer from a patellar tendon injury in his knee. Sidelined until midway through the season, he wasn't able to push Jackson for reps on defense and primarily played special teams. Fully healthy with a chance to enjoy a normal spring on the practice field, he's going to be chomping at the bit to prove he can return to his promising pre-injury rookie form.
Following a strong college career playing as a boundary cornerback at Cincinnati, Bryant took on the challenge of sliding inside to handle slot duties for the Seahawks as a rookie. Though he went through his lumps, including giving up a long touchdown reception in the season opener to Jerry Jeudy, he emulated former Bears great Peanut Tillman punching out four fumbles and steadily improved lined up inside as the year progressed. He will face competition from newly-signed defensive back Julian Love and potentially Brown, but should enter the season as the favorite to retain his nickel job.
Wild Card: Brown
Only two years ago, the Seahawks appeared to have struck gold with Brown as a fourth-round pick out of Oklahoma. After recovering from a knee injury that led to him opening his rookie season on injured reserve, he quickly vaulted veteran Sidney Jones into the starting lineup and played well in five games, allowing a completion percentage under 50 percent and no touchdowns while recording several big stops as a run defender. But then his knee buckled while trying to defend a deep ball to receiver A.J. Green and he spent the next 12 months rehabbing from a severe injury.
With Witherspoon entering the fold, Brown's best bet to see the field may actually be moving inside to the slot, where his quickness and aggressive mindset should play well at the position. If he's all the way back athletically following a rigorous rehab that set him back last season, he could re-emerge as a viable candidate to unseat Bryant and return to a significant role on defense.
What's Next?
Top to bottom, assuming Witherspoon hits the ground running as one of the top defensive prospects in this year's draft class, cornerback may be Seattle's deepest and most talented positional group. With additional seasoning, Woolen has a chance to take another big step forward towards becoming one of the NFL's elite shutdown cornerbacks, while Bryant, Jackson, and Brown all have enough talent to start for several teams, making this a unit with the potential to be one of the very best in the league if everything comes together as hoped.
If there are any question marks, Witherspoon's readiness will be a top storyline going into training camp. In the slot, the addition of Love and a healthier Brown could make for a fun three-player competition to play out in August with Bryant looking to maintain his spot in the lineup.
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