The 2023 NFL draft is two weeks away, and we here at Commanders Wire will look to profile multiple 2023 prospects daily leading up to day one of the draft.
We will focus on prospects who could be available for Washington and who fit a position of need. Our prospect profiles will not be exclusive to projected first-round picks only but also players who will be selected on the second and third days of the NFL draft.
The Commanders are first on the clock at No. 16 overall.
Today, we profile Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon.
The numbers
Size: 5-foot-11 1/2, 181 pounds
40-yard dash: N/A, missed NFL combine with injury
Arms: 31 1/4″
Hands: 8 7/8″
Vertical jump: N/A
Broad jump: N/A
10-yard split: N/A
Scouting report
Devon Witherspoon is an outstanding cornerback prospect. While some worry about his size, he plays much bigger than his 181 pounds would suggest. Witherspoon is physical at the line of scrimmage and isn’t afraid to stick his nose in the running game. Witherspoon excels in zone coverage, which is primarily what the Commanders play. Some were questioning Witherspoon’s long speed since he could not compete at the combine, but he apparently alleviated those concerns recently at a private workout with times in the low 4.4s.
Lots of positive reviews from scouts following #Illinois CB Devon Witherspoon’s pro day. 40 times ranged from 4.41-4.43 and he elected not to do agility testing (hamstring). 23 teams were present at the workout.
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) April 5, 2023
Here’s what Lance Zierlein of NFL.com said about Witherspoon.
Witherspoon is a fun watch but requires evaluators to carefully consider his strengths and weaknesses relative to scheme. He plays with anticipation, route feel and a consistent sense of urgency to prevent catches, as displayed by his high number of pass breakups. He plays with ballhawking eyes and good balance from zone coverage and is very aggressive tackling both after the catch and in run support. There are snaps where he gets behind and stays behind due to a lack of premium speed and closing burst, so he might require help over the top or a more zone-oriented scheme to help him shine. The playmaking mentality and traits give him a solid chance to become a CB2 in the league.
College stats
2019: Appeared in 13 games, making three starts in his true freshman season. Finished the season with 33 tackles and two pass breakups.
2020: Started all seven games in which he played. He finished with 33 tackles, including one for loss, two interceptions and one forced fumble.
2021: Started 10 games, recorded 52 tackles, including eight for loss, one sack and nine pass breakups. He was honorable mention All-Big Ten.
2022: Started 12 games and finished with 40 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, three interceptions and 14 pass breakups. Witherspoon received numerous honors as he was a finalist for the Thorpe Award and a consensus All-American, among other honors.
Highlights
Fit with Commanders
Witherspoon gives the Commanders another starting cornerback for 2023. While Witherspoon likely starts day one on the outside, there are some who believe he could play in the slot. But Washington isn’t picking Witherspoon at No. 16 overall to play in the slot. The Commanders view Witherspoon as a playmaking outside cornerback.
If Witherspoon lands in Washington, that gives the Commanders an excellent trio in Witherspoon, Kendall Fuller and Benjamin St-Juste. Washington needs St-Juste to stay healthy. St-Juste looked like a star at times, and if that growth continues, the Commanders could have one of the better young duos in the league, with the veteran Fuller around to play outside or in the slot.
