When the Steelers first acquired Ahkello Witherspoon from the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for a 2023 fifth round pick, it seemed all but a formality that the 26 year old, five year NFL veteran would find a role as an important depth piece. After all, following an impressive career with the Colorado Buffaloes, Witherspoon had started 33 of his 47 career games prior to the 2021 season, tallying a healthy 117 tackles, four interceptions, 24 pass deflections, and a touchdown in his four prior seasons.
Nonetheless, after a disappointing start to the season in which he only cracked 20 defensive snaps once through the first 12 weeks of the season, Witherspoon was finally thrust into the starting lineup out of necessity in Week 13, playing upwards of 60 snaps against Baltimore and Minnesota.