Seahawks’ Byron Maxwell: ‘It could be a very good year for me’

By Michael Cohodes Payant
Special to 710Sports.com

For the first time in his career, Seahawks cornerback Byron Maxwell enters the season as a starter. And Maxwell knows he’ll be tested often while playing opposite Richard Sherman, which means plenty of opportunities to make plays.

“It could be a very good year for me” Maxwell told 710 ESPN Seattle’s “Bob and Groz” Tuesday.

Sherman, regarded as one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks, led the league with eight interceptions in 2013 despite being the targeted the fewest times of anyone at his position. If the preseason opener against the Broncos was any indicator, opposing teams will continue to avoid Sherman and instead take their chances with Maxwell.

Maxwell played in all 16 games for the Seahawks last season, starting the last five while Brandon Browner was injured and Walter Thurmond was suspended. When Maxwell got his opportunities he capitalized on them, most notably during the final four regular-season games when he had four interceptions and seven passes defended.

When Browner and Thurmond signed elsewhere in free agency, it left Maxwell as the unquestioned starter at right cornerback.

Despite entering the season as a starter, Maxwell says his mindset this training camp has been the same as others in the past, which has helped him stay grounded.

“Just get better each day,” Maxwell said. “Every training camp is ‘get better, improve on my technique, help my teammates out.’ “