Talking about Seattle’s draft after completing Saturday’s picks, Seahawks general manager John Schneider said: “We only scouted DBs at Auburn.”

Schneider was joking, of course, but the only defensive backs among Seattle’s eight selections in the 2024 NFL Draft were Auburn cornerbacks Nehemiah Pritchett and DJ James.

“It just literally fell that way,” Schneider said. “We had those guys right together, so it was amazing that we ended up selecting both of them. Both really cool kids – young men, sorry – and competitors. To add to that room those two guys, it’s a big deal. Excited to get them here and get them going.”

Schneider said the Seahawks didn’t end up with two cornerbacks from the same college program because Auburn’s defensive system particularly aligned with Seattle’s, but because they were the best picks at the time.

“It wasn’t necessarily scheme, quite honestly,” Schneider said. “It was just the skill set. With Pritchett, the speed. DJ, he can play nickel, he can play outside, too. It wasn’t necessarily a scheme evaluation. They’re both talented cover guys.

“There’s things that both of them need to clean up, and once they get here they’ll understand that, and they’ll have a clear vision for where they’re headed.”

The Seahawks picked Pritchett in the fifth round and James in the sixth round on Saturday.

“It means a lot just knowing I’m going in there with somebody I played college football with here,” James said.

Seattle’s depth chart at cornerback already includes returning starters Riq Woolen, who was a Pro Bowler as a rookie in 2022, and Devon Witherspoon, who was a Pro Bowler as a rookie in 2023. The position group also includes former Spain Park High School standout Michael Jackson, who started every game in 2022.

“Come in and compete,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said of the plan for the rookies. “Really, that’s the theme for the whole draft class. Nehemiah’s probably more of an outside guy. Definitely early, both guys on special teams. We anticipate them to come in and make a huge impact for us. DJ probably both inside and outside. But, hey, come in, man, compete, we’ll figure it out. …

“We got a lot of reps to be had out there, so it’ll hash itself out.”

James got the call that he had been drafted from former Auburn standout Neiko Thorpe, who is a Seattle defensive assistant.

During the call, James told Seahawks defensive-backs coach Karl Scott: “You know you just got a dog, right?”

Scott replied: “You know what they say, man: I see better than I hear now, so you’re going to have to show me.”

James said he’s ready to handle multiple roles for the Seahawks.

“Going into the NFL, I’m ready to play whatever position they need me to play,” James said. “If it’s nickel, if it’s outside corner, I can play them both, and if it’s some on special teams, just anything to help the team, I’m willing to do.”

James and Pritchett have a former teammate already on Seattle’s roster. Derick Hall joined the Seahawks in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. As a rookie, he played in every game, with 307 snaps at outside linebacker and 287 plays on special teams.

“I think they got a really good defense and a really good secondary,” Pritchett said, “and I’ll just be an amazing piece to add to it. And there’s my teammate there, Derick Hall, and I know players like that are ready to win, so I can’t wait.”

Pritchett said he thought having the fourth-fastest time in the 40-yard dash among the cornerbacks at the NFL Scouting Combine on March 1 had helped his draft status “a lot.”

“It’s been in my blood,” Pritchett said. “I’ve been fast all my life, so I was ready for that moment. To be honest, I wanted to run lower, but I was cool with the 4.36.”

Pritchett said he had clocked a 4.28-second 40 in training.

Both James and Pritchett are former Alabama high school standouts – James at Spanish Fort and Pritchett at Jackson.

Between the Seahawks selection of the two cornerbacks, the Indianapolis Colts chose Auburn safety Jaylin Simpson in the sixth round on Saturday.

In the common-draft era (since 1967), this is the first year in which three Auburn defensive backs were selected. Three drafts had included two Auburn defensive backs – Patrick Lee and Jonathan Wilhite in 2008, Rudy Ford and Joshua Holsey in 2017 and Noah Igbinoghene and Daniel Thomas in 2020.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.