Evaluation
Andrew Wilbar: Do not let my mid-first round grade on Witherspoon make you think I do not like Witherspoon as a prospect. I simply do not feel as if he is on the level of Joey Porter, Jr. and Christian Gonzalez. A nagging hamstring injury prevented him from participating at both the combine and the Illinois pro day, which left several questions unanswered. As it pertains to last season, Witherspoon was a baller, displaying excellent instincts, fluidity, and feistiness. The big concern I have is that he pays for his aggression downfield, grabbing hold of receivers way too often. He will get flagged for it much more in the NFL than he did in college if the issue is not resolved. While many consider the combine and pro day to be overrated events for a draft prospect, the 40 time is incredibly important for a cornerback, and one of the serious concerns about Witherspoon’s game was his speed. However, he answered that question at his individual pro day, running a 4.42. He is an experienced corner in man coverage, but with his lack of size, his best fit may be in a zone-heavy scheme, where he can thrive off his instincts and open-field tackling ability.