Seahawks First Quarter Awards: MVP, LVP, Rookie of the Year

The Seattle Seahawks are 3-1 through the first four games of the 2024 season and currently sit in first place in the NFC West. While the defense greatly struggled in Week 4 against the Lions, this was likely due to Seattle's many defensive injuries. Overall, the team is slightly better at this point than most might have expected.

There is still a lot of football to be played this season, of course, but Seattle is in decent position to make a postseason run. The offense has been good enough to get there. The defense just needs to get healthy.

Some of the first quarter awards below are easy. Geno Smith deserves his due and is proving again he is a good quarterback. One player needs to get a lot better, though.

Seahawks First Quarter Awards: Who is MVP, LVP?

Most Valuable Player: Geno Smith

There should be little doubt about this quarter-season award. Where might Seattle be without Smith. They possibly lose to the Patriots in Week 2. The Detroit Lions game in Week 4 probably looks more like 49-14 instead of 42-29. Heading into Week 5, Smith led the NFL in passing yards and only two of his four interceptions were truly his fault. The magic he has worked while moving around the pocket is amazing.

Least Valuable Player: Anthony Bradford

Bradford leads all guards in penalties in 2024 with six, though he has been flagged for more. He has also allowed nine quarterback pressures through four games, including six against the Miami Dolphins in Week 3. Still, he hasn't been replaced by rookie Christian Haynes yet so the Seahawks are seemingly stuck with Bradford. That certainly won't help the offense.

Most Improved Player: Derick Hall

Hall looked like a second-round bust in his rookie season. He wasn't just awful for a first-year player, but he was terrible for anyone. This season, Hall is playing like someone who could earn a Pro Bowl nod. He has four sacks in four games and already has three more quarterback hits than he had all of last year. He has 13 total pressures and has whiffed on just one tackle attempt.

Rookie of the Year candidate: AJ Barner

It would be easy to have Byron Murphy II listed here and he was not bad in the first two games, but then he got injured early in Week 3 and could be out for a while. Linebacker Tyrice Knight has played decently, but still needs to work on his coverage skills and being more well-rounded. Barner has gotten better each week, however, in every facet of his game. He is a good run-blocker and he has caught all five of his pass targets and scored a touchdown in Week 4.

Best Newcomer: Rayshawn Jenkins

The hope was probably that Tyrel Dodson would have a fantastic season after becoming a presumed full-time starter for the first time in his career. He started well, but wasn't good in Week 4. Jenkins hasn't been a Pro Bowler, but he has allowed just 67 receiving yards on nine catches and did not miss a tackle in Weeks 2 and 3.

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