One of the most popular prospects in the 2024 NFL draft class that’s been frequently connected to the Seahawks and their No. 16 overall pick is Illinois defensive tackle Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton. He comes from the same tenacious Fighting Illini defense that spawned Seattle’s first selection in last year’s draft, gremlin slot corner Devon Witherspoon – who should have won Defensive Rookie of the Year.
In any case, Newton says that he’d love reuiniting with Witherspoon and playing together on the Seahawks. It sounds like Spoon wouldn’t mind it, either. Replying to a thread between former Seahawks scout Jim Nagy and ESPN analyst Mina Kimes, Spoon gave a short scouting report on Newton.
Wins with agility in that clip. As someone who played with him, he wins with more than just brute upper body power. Wins with feet, hands, and instincts. Don’t forget he did play RB in high school! https://t.co/YtJ9Cg0S0s
— Devon Witherspoon (@DevonWitherspo1) March 17, 2024
The clip Spoon is referring to is below, where Newton breezes past the right tackle and chases down Minnesota QB Athan Kaliakmanis for a sack.
One of my favorite things about Johnny Newton: There were a few games last year that he simply took over.
Lined up over the RT here–check out the hands + closing speed. 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/OMTxtX9PVu
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) March 17, 2024
Here’s a longer video with more highlights from Newton’s time at Illinois.
We certainly wouldn’t hate seeing Newton get drafted by Seattle. However, after re-signing Leonard Williams to a significant new contract, the chances of the Seahawks spending a first-round pick on an interior defensive lineman probably dwindled significantly. While we certainly can’t rule it out, we are expecting the team to address other positions first.
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