Seahawks: 5 individual standout awards at the end of the 2021 season

The Seattle Seahawks are finished for the season. While things didn’t go the way they would have liked, it’s still appropriate to hand out some hardware for outstanding individual players.

Here are five who deserve recognition for their performance in 2021.

Offensive MVP: WR Tyler Lockett

Michael Chow-Arizona Republic

Under ordinary circumstances, this award would go to Russell Wilson. While Wilson had a strong case, missing three games and playing horribly in three more after returning too early from his hand injury hurt him badly in the consistency department. The same goes for D.K. Metcalf, who scored a team-high 12 times but also had a long dry spell midseason and committed several costly penalties. Meanwhile, Lockett’s catch rate was 10% higher and he led the team with 1,184 yards from scrimmage while posting eight touchdowns. Lockett has been Seattle’s most consistent playmaker for some time and this season was no exception.

Defensive MVP: FS Quandre Diggs

Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Compared to the offense, this award was much easier to decide. Only middle linebacker Bobby Wagner had a shot to beat out Diggs. In the end, Wagner’s rough two-game stretch before his injury against Detroit cost him. In any case, Diggs had a better overall season. Not only did Diggs lead the team with five interceptions, he also played over 100 more snaps than any other defender. Diggs also only allowed one touchdown all year. The Seahawks need to re-sign him and had better hope he’s the same player after he returns from his broken fibula next season.

Special teams MVP: RB Travis Homer

(AP Photo/Ben VanHouten)

Aside from a bad year from kicker Jason Myers, the Seahawks had a strong special teams unit all season. Several players were worthy of recognition in this area, including Nick Bellore and Cody Barton. Travis Homer made more splash plays than anybody else for this unit, though. His epic fake punt touchdown run against the Niners and the forced fumble against the Cards are only a couple of great examples of how he made a huge impact.

Most improved: RB Rashaad Penny

Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

For the first three and a half years of his career, Rashaad Penny was on his way to becoming another first-round bust for Seattle. His insane, unprecedented performance over the last five weeks proved he had true superstar potential all along, though. In the end, Penny wound up leading the league in yards per rush (6.3) and bested MVP candidate Jonathan Taylor in several categories. Pro Football Focus gave Penny the seventh-highest rushing grade among RBs for the season. Re-signing Penny and making him the lead back in 2022 should be a no-brainer.

Best rookie: CB Tre Brown

(AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

There were slim pickings for this reward, with only three draft picks to choose from and two of them hardly playing in the regular season. Cornerback Tre Brown only appeared in five games before a knee injury shut him down, but he showed tremendous potential as a tackler for his position and played tight coverage, only allowing a 63.3 passer rating. Brown should project as Seattle’s long-term starter at left outside corner.

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