Seahawks Preseason Awards: MVP, Most Improved, Top Rookie
From a standings perspective, the NFL preseason offers no value, but the games still remain crucial to the evaluation process for the Seattle Seahawks and all 32 NFL teams as they build their 53-man rosters for the regular season.
With Seattle going 2-1 in exhibition season, coach Pete Carroll was pleased by the effort put forth by his players with incoming rookies and veterans alike playing at a high level to give the team a chance to win every game. He anticipates such competitiveness will carry over to the regular season as the organization looks to return to the playoffs for the 12th time in 14 years.
"I feel really good where we are right now. We have had a great camp," Carroll said following a 19-15 loss to the Packers at Lambeau Field on Saturday.
Looking back at the preseason as a whole, which players stood out for the Seahawks? Here are my annual awards for exhibition season, including most valuable player, top rookie, and unsung hero:
*All stats come via Pro Football Focus unless otherwise noted.
Most Valuable Player: Drew Lock
Showing marked improvements across the board with over 100 preseason snaps under center, Lock's confidence running Shane Waldron's offense blossomed with quicker decision making and fewer forced throws into traffic, allowing his immense physical gifts to shine. Completing nearly 70 percent of his 55 pass attempts, the former second-round pick averaged a steady 8.4 yards per attempt while throwing three touchdowns and only one interception while posting a 105.1 passer rating. Showing off his elite arm strength, he was especially prolific as a downfield passer on throws of 20 or more yards, completing six out of nine attempts for 190 yards and 21.1 yards per attempt with a touchdown and no picks.
Defensive Player of the Preseason: Levi Bell
A frequent visitor in the backfield, Bell had double-digit quarterback pressures and multiple tackles for loss during an impressive preseason for Seattle.
© Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
Taking full advantage of his opportunity after signing with the Seahawks just one day before the start of training camp, Bell put his relentless motor and versatility on display from the outset, consistently making plays on the practice field and during preseason games off the edge as well as reduced inside as a 3-tech defensive tackle. Tying for fifth among all edge defenders in the NFL during exhibition season, he finished first on the Seahawks with 10 quarterback pressures while registering five tackles against the run netting two or fewer yards for the opposing offense. In three games, he posted a strong 16.6 percent pressure rate, missed only one tackle, and allowed one yard on two receptions in coverage, turning in a fantastic preseason that could net him a spot on the 53-man roster.
Most Improved: Boye Mafe, Easop Winston
Called the most improved player on the team by Carroll himself, Mafe lived up to the hype with an excellent preseason playing with the first-team defense. Showing rapid improvements in the pass rushing department, he racked up six quarterback pressures on just 27 pass rushing snaps for a 22.2 percent pressure rate and he also got his mitts on a pair of passes at the line of scrimmage for batted balls. In addition, he built off a strong rookie year defending the run with a pair of tackles for loss setting the edge.
Offensively, even while missing the second preseason game with a groin injury, Winston emerged as a viable candidate to make Seattle's initial roster to help fill the void for injured wideouts Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Dareke Young. In just two games, he caught six out of eight targets for 103 yards, averaged 17.2 yards per catch, and scored a touchdown. He also contributed on special teams, returning a pair of punts for 21 yards in a role he could play in the regular season.
Top Rookie of the Preseason: Jake Bobo
Proving 40 times are just a number, Bobo has done nothing but come through with catch after catch since the Seahawks signed him as an undrafted free agent out of UCLA in May. Impressing Carroll and quarterback Geno Smith from the outset, he emerged as a sleeper to watch in OTAs and continued turning heads throughout training camp and the preseason, leading the team with seven receptions, 125 receiving yards, and two touchdowns in three exhibition games. A sharp route runner with an excellent understanding of coverages and soft hands, the 6-4 target has earned the trust of Seattle's quarterbacks and pitched in more than expected on special teams, making him a lock to earn a roster spot and contribute right away as a secondary receiving option.
Top Veteran Newcomer: Devin Bush
Playing quite a few snaps as a starter with Bobby Wagner not playing in the preseason and Jordyn Brooks working back from a torn ACL, Bush performed at a high level against the run and in coverage during the preseason. Remaining reliable at getting ball carriers to the ground, he didn't miss a single tackle while registering 11 combined stops and a tackle for loss. Though he did allow a 22-yard reception, that was the only catch he gave up on two targets and he moved fluidly dropping into his zone assignments as well as manning up against running backs and tight ends. Extensive special teams action may be in his future with Brooks potentially ready to play in the season opener, but he provides Seattle with a quality insurance option at linebacker.
Unsung Hero of the Preseason: Jacob Sykes, SaRodorick Thompson Jr.
Despite arriving after the start of camp, SaRodorick Thompson Jr. flashed in three preseason games with a slashing running style for the Seahawks.
While veterans like Bush get a bit of run during the preseason, exhibition auditions still remain mostly about rookies and young players trying to chase a dream and make the most of their NFL opportunity. After being waived earlier in the offseason before being re-signed, Sykes emerged as a surprise along Seattle's interior defensive line in August, amassing six quarterback pressures and a batted pass on 62 pass rushing snaps. He also didn't miss any tackles while holding up fairly well against the run, putting himself in the conversation for one of the final roster spots.
Offensively, Thompson Jr. didn't even join the Seahawks until early in training camp when Ken Walker III and Zach Charbonnet were battling injuries. Typically such late additions are just camp bodies, but the former Texas Tech standout proved to be more than that, seizing every opportunity he received with 81 rushing yards, two touchdowns, and a healthy 4.0 yards after contact per carry average. Given the team's running back depth, a roster spot may be out of the question, but he has earned practice squad consideration looking the part of an NFL back.
Top Offensive Play of the Preseason: Lock splits tight coverage to hit Winston for 13-yard touchdown
In the past, Lock's willingness to trust his rocket arm has gotten him into trouble more times than not, leading to ugly interceptions forcing the football into tight coverage. But few quarterbacks have the mustard to complete a pass such as the one he connected with Winston on, as he threaded the needle with a 98 mile per hour fastball between two closing coverage defenders at the goal line to hit the target in the chest for a 13-yard score, rocketing the ball just past the outstretched arm of rookie cornerback Mekhi Blackmon.
Top Defensive Play of the Preseason: Tre Brown jumps route in end zone for clutch pick
With the Cowboys moving the football into the opposing red zone and the Seahawks nursing a slim three-point lead early in the fourth quarter, Brown came through with a critical interception to send the visitors back to the sideline empty handed. Third-string quarterback Will Grier rolled out to his right and climbed up the pocket before attempting to hit receiver Simi Fehoko on a post route. However, the throw came out late and the third-year cornerback baited the signal caller into a bad decision, jumping the route at the goal line and returning the pick 22 yards in a play that loomed large in a close 22-14 victory.
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