It’s no secret the Washington Commanders need offensive line help in the 2023 NFL draft. But at pick No. 16, what if some of the top offensive linemen are off the board for the Commanders?
Luke Easterling of Draft Wire has the Commanders landing a talented cornerback at No. 16 in Devon Witherspoon from Illinois.
Not familiar with Witherspoon? The 6-foot-0, 180-pounder didn’t begin playing football until his junior year of high school, which slowed his recruitment. After initially committing to Hutchinson Community College, Witherspoon landed at Illinois days before camp started in 2019.
As a true freshman in only his third year of organized football, Witherspoon played in every game, making three starts. From there, he would start the next three seasons and become an All-Big-Ten selection in his final two seasons before being named a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award in 2022.
Witherspoon may have the highest ceiling of any cornerback in this draft. He is a physical player who excels in man coverage. That skill set would certainly be welcome on Washington’s defense in 2023 and beyond.
