New coach Mike Macdonald took over a Seattle defense with some problems to address but also a lot of talent at certain positions. Cornerback is a spot where Macdonald has a lot to work with, and the group is confident.
Devon Witherspoon, who had an impressive rookie season, and Riq Woolen, who finished third in the defensive rookie of the year voting in 2022, are standout players.
Seattle also has good depth at cornerback, which could lead to tough decisions for Macdonald and his team when they make roster cuts later this month.
“Everybody is hungry. There’s a fresh start,” said cornerback Tre Brown, who is starting his fourth season. “It’s a first impression for everybody, so everybody wants to go out there and show who, what they can do without having that label put on them or who they are. So everybody gets a fair chance.”
Woolen and Witherspoon are expected to be starters and get most of the playing time in Macdonald’s system. Brown, who became a starter in 2023 after dealing with injuries in his first two seasons, will also play a major role.
The depth includes Michael Jackson, who started 17 games in 2022, and Artie Burns, who has 39 career starts and might play the nickel cornerback spot.
Seattle also added two cornerbacks from Auburn, D.J. James and Nehemiah Pritchett, in the April draft.
“We have a lot of great competition in the corner room,” Macdonald said.
For the secondary to reach its full potential, Seattle needs Woolen to regain the consistency he showed as a rookie and for Witherspoon to keep improving.
