Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon was a dynamic nickel cover-man as a rookie last season. The No. 5 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft played 421 of his defensive snaps in the slot, per Pro Football Focus.
The Seahawks have a new coaching staff and that means defensive-minded head coach Mike Macdonald is experimenting with different looks. Witherspoon spent Tuesday’s practice earlier this week primarily playing as a boundary cornerback opposite Riq Woolen, according to local media members in attendance. That opens up a possibility for other players to rotate into the lineup as a nickel corner.
Macdonald’s defense is going to be multiple and complex. Witherespoon will move around and take advantage of matchups. We’ve identified three Seahawks defenders that could play the nickel more frequently this season.
Artie Burns
Artie Burns played 202 snaps as a nickel corner last season. Macdonald and defensive coordinator Aden Durde clearly appreciate Burns’ ability to play that role, as he was the main beneficiary of Witherspoon’s foray to the boundary at practice earlier this week. The ninth-year versatile pro figures to be a chess-piece for Macdonald’s defense this season.
D.J. James
One of the concerns on rookie cornerback D.J. James coming out of Auburn was that he lacked the long-speed and frame (175 pounds at the NFL combine) required to consistently play the boundary. That likely makes James a nickel corner in the NFL. The Seahawks pounced on his availability with a sixth-round selection. He likely won’t play a big role this season, but does offer Macdonald another viable and versatile option.
Coby Bryant
Coby Bryant has played safety and nickel corner for the Seahawks. A toe injury cost him large portions of his 2023 campaign, but when on the field, he spent the majority of his snaps as a slot corner. Bryant hasn’t met his fourth-round expectations, but he’ll continue playing multiple positions in the defensive backfield as necessary.