The Seahawks used the No. 5 overall pick in the 2023 draft on Devon Witherspoon because they saw in him a rookie with a rare combination of physicality, instincts, playmaking ability and that hard-to-define trait general manager John Schneider described as "juice."
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll even went so far as to compare Witherspoon to an all-time great defensive back on the day he was selected.
And only three games into his NFL career, Witherspoon put together the type of performance that showed off all of those traits, leading the way in a dominant defensive effort as the Seahawks beat the Giants on Monday Night Football.
After two strong performances in the past two games, Witherspoon had his breakout game in the national spotlight, recording a pair of sacks, seven tackles, and most notably, a 97-yard interception return touchdown that helped the Seahawks put the game out of reach.
And for that performance, Witherspoon was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 4, the second Seahawk to earn player of the week honors in as many weeks after Kenneth Walker III was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week in Week 3.
Witherspoon is also the second Seahawks rookie cornerback to be named player of the week in as many seasons, with Riq Woolen winning NFC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 6 last season.
Witherspoon's performance was made all the more impressive by the fact that he changed roles in Week 4, playing nickel corner after spending the previous two weeks lined up outside at left cornerback.
"I never thought he wouldn't play like this," Carroll said after the game. "This is why we took him, to be active and to show that he gets this game of football, and it comes easy to him, and he's an explosive, dynamic player.
"He did a great job again tonight. You can see why we like him. We didn't have Artie (Burns) tonight and we didn't have Tre Brown tonight, so he had to (play nickel cornerback) all night long for us, and it was a beautiful job. He's showing you who he is."
Who Witherspoon was on Monday was arguably the best player on the field for a defense full of playmakers that kept the Giants out of the end zone for an entire game, matched a franchise record with 11 sacks and forced three turnovers.
"He's gotten better each week," linebacker Jordyn Brooks said. "To see him coming out here and just dominating this early in his career, it's a big sign that he's going to be great in this league for a long time."
Check out the best sights from the sidelines and the locker room following the Seahawks' 24-3 victory over the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on Monday Night Football. Easy to Celebrate photos are presented by Bud Light.
New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll and Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll shake hands following an NFL football game on Monday, October 2, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Kevin Sabitus/NFL)
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Lance Boykin (18) and cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) celebrate following an NFL football game against the New York Giants on Monday, October 2, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Kathryn Riley/NFL)
Seattle Seahawks tight end Colby Parkinson (84) and running back Zach Charbonnet (26) pose for a photo with New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) following an NFL football game on Monday, October 2, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Kevin Sabitus/NFL)
New York Giants cornerback Cor'Dale Flott (28) and Seattle Seahawks guard Anthony Bradford (75) pose for a photo following an NFL football game on Monday, October 2, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Kevin Sabitus/NFL)
New York Giants running back Eric Gray (20) and Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) pose for a photo following an NFL football game on Monday, October 2, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Kevin Sabitus/NFL)
during an NFL football game against the XXXX on Monday, October 2, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Kevin Sabitus/NFL)
Seattle Seahawks running back DeeJay Dallas (31) exits the field following an NFL football game against the New York Giants on Monday, October 2, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Kevin Sabitus/NFL)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) exits the field following an NFL football game against the New York Giants on Monday, October 2, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Kevin Sabitus/NFL)
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) is interviewed following an NFL football game against the New York Giants on Monday, October 2, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Kathryn Riley/NFL)
Seattle Seahawks safety Quandre Diggs (6) exits the field following an NFL football game against the New York Giants on Monday, October 2, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Kevin Sabitus/NFL)
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) exits the field following an NFL football game against the New York Giants on Monday, October 2, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Kevin Sabitus/NFL)
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) exits the field following an NFL football game against the New York Giants on Monday, October 2, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Kevin Sabitus/NFL)
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) exits the field following an NFL football game against the New York Giants on Monday, October 2, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Kevin Sabitus/NFL)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) interacts with fans following an NFL football game against the New York Giants on Monday, October 2, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Kevin Sabitus/NFL)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) exits the field following an NFL football game against the New York Giants on Monday, October 2, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Kevin Sabitus/NFL)
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner (54) exits the field following an NFL football game against the New York Giants on Monday, October 2, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Kevin Sabitus/NFL)
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) exits the field following an NFL football game against the New York Giants on Monday, October 2, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Kathryn Riley/NFL)
