Seahawks CB Tariq Woolen Finishes 3rd for Defensive Rookie of Year, Jets' Sauce Gardner Wins

Seattle Seahawks rookie cornerback Tariq Woolen was nominated for the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year, and a winner was announced Thursday at NFL Honors.

Seattle Seahawks rookie cornerback Tariq Woolen entered Thursday's NFL Honors as one of three finalists for the Defensive Rookie of the Year.

But in tight race, New York Jets rookie cornerback Sauce Gardner took home the award.

Woolen was one of three finalists on his side of the ball, joining Gardner and Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson.

Woolen, who seemed destined for a role on special teams after being a fifth-round pick, took the NFL by storm and tied the league-lead with six interceptions this past season before being named to the Pro Bowl. He was arguably Seattle's best rookie this season, though it's clearly a tight race between him and Walker III.

Now that the elite expectations are set, Woolen has even more odds to defy.

"Whenever I first got here to now, it's crazy cause I made a lot of steps," he said. "I beat a lot of odds and I beat a lot of expectations. People thought I was gonna be an experiment, I'm still getting better and got stuff to work on, but nobody thought a Pro Bowl, nobody thought I'd lead the league in interceptions, nobody thought I'd be a starter."

He'll look to carry this momentum headed into next season, one that will carry more postseason hopes for Seattle.

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You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7

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