NFL Mock Draft: Seahawks Pick Witherspoon's Former Teammate

The Seattle Seahawks are entering a new era with Mike Macdonald as their new head coach and defensive wizard will now take up residence in the NFC West.

Despite the Seahawks underwhelming this season and failing to make the playoffs, Macdonald has the pieces on both sides of the ball to get this team to the postseason.

Leonard Williams’ future is uncertain at best ahead of entering free agency. So in CBS Sports’ latest mock draft, Macdonald and the Seahawks shore up the defensive line by selecting Illinois stud Jer’Zhan Newton, a former collegiate teammate of Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon.

Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

“Newton played on an Illini defense in 2022 that included No. 5 overall pick Devon Witherspoon and Day 2 selections Quan Martin and Sydney Brown,” CBS Sports writes. He had a strong 2023 campaign, and the Seattle defense, especially along the defensive line, is in line for some reinforcements.”

Newton was a beacon of production for Illinois in 2023. He registered 7.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss along with a forced fumble. In his last five games of the season, Newton notched five sacks as his consistency towards the end of the year stood out. He was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2023.

He can impact in both the passing and run game. Macdonald will no doubt find multiple ways to get Newton into the backfield, something he did with regularity for Illinois. His versatility allows him to be lined up anywhere along the defensive line.

The Seahawks and Macdonald, in an ideal world, will work out a deal with Williams, but if that can’t be done, selecting Newton in the first round is a good compromise.