Seahawks DB Devon Witherspoon “will get the best of” Ja’Marr Chase

Devon Witherspoon has taken the Seattle Seahawks secondary by storm, and even his teammates are taking notice.

After finishing his final year at Illinois with 42 tackles, 14 pass deflections, and three interceptions, Witherspoon was selected with pick No. 5 in the 2023 NFL Draft by the Seahawks. There were some detractors with this pick, but if there is one thing Witherspoon knows best it is how to prove doubters wrong.

Through three games with the Seahawks, Witherspoon has 23 tackles, four pass deflections, two sacks, one interception, and he took that pick 97 yards to the house. These impressive numbers also have Witherspoon directly in the crosshairs for Defensive Rookie of the Year. He is now the second-favorite at +300, right behind Jalen Carter at -175.

After a bye week, Seattle is now traveling to Cincinnati to take on Joe Burrow and the Bengals. What also comes along with Burrow is a great wide receiver in Ja’Marr Chase.

Witherspoon is likely to be matched up against Chase on Sunday. This will be the biggest test of his young career thus far. But, while Seahawks’ wide receiver D.K. Metcalf has all of the respect for Chase and what he can do on the field, he thinks his talented teammate will be able to handle the two-time Pro Bowl pass catcher.

"“Um, just the long ball that I think (Joe) Burrow threw to him (Ja’Marr Chase), on a 70-yard bomb, just how effortlessly he caught the ball, so, he’s just a great receiver. I tip my hat off to him with what he’s done in the first three years in the league. It will be fun to watch on Sunday, but I think Spoon (Devon Witherspoon) will get the best of him.”"

When Devon Witherspoon has a player like D.K. Metcalf giving him high praise, you know you are doing something right

Getting praise from the general public is one thing, but when you have Metcalf backing you saying you can take on Chase, that has to be a completely different feeling.

Metcalf knows greatness. In his first four seasons in the NFL, he has averaged over 1,000 yards and nearly nine touchdowns each year. He has battled against Witherspoon in camp and practices as well. He has the best first-hand knowledge of what Witherspoon can do on the field.

I am excited to see what Witherspoon can do against Chase, considering he just torched the Arizona Cardinals for 192 yards and three touchdowns this past Sunday. It is early in his career, but Witherspoon is likely not to see a tougher matchup the rest of the season. This will be a true test for the rookie.