Seahawks 2021 Awards: Offensive Lineman of the Year

Injuries and inconsistent play across the board once again left Seattle's offensive line under heavy scrutiny. With each starter going through a roller coaster of a season in some way, shape, or form, who stood out as the best in the trenches in 2021?

Author:
Corbin K. Smith
Publish date:
Jan 20, 2022 3:21 PM EST

Following a 38-30 win over the Cardinals at State Farm Stadium, the Seahawks have officially transitioned into offseason mode after a disappointing 7-10 campaign.

While the franchise didn't live up to lofty expectations coming off of an NFC West title and a 12-win season in 2020, several players still starred in all three phases for Seattle. Over the next two weeks, the Seahawk Maven writing staff will be naming their selections for end of season awards, including most valuable player, most improved, assistant coach of the year, and many more.

Continuing our postseason awards, who stood out as Seattle's Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2021? Our panel makes their selections:

Duane Brown

Ty Dane Gonzalez: There were plenty of ups and downs for Brown and the rest of Seattle's offensive line in 2021. The 14-year veteran appeared to have suffered a serious case of regression over the first 10 weeks of the season, credited with allowing 22 pressures and seven sacks during that stretch. But as Ethan Pocic, who reclaimed his starting job at center in Week 8, grew more comfortable, the communication across the line improved and Brown thrived. From Week 11 onward, he surrendered a modest nine pressures and a lone sack of quarterback Russell Wilson. The Seahawks can work with that, and if the 36-year old is not ready to call it a career this offseason, general manager John Schneider and crew must do what they can to retain him.

Nick Lee: Did Brown have a down year by his standards? Yes, absolutely, and the player himself admitted as such during a press conference in the middle of the season. However, he set the bar pretty high and no other Seahawks lineman exceeded it. Once Pocic returned to the lineup and communication improved in the trenches, the veteran found his groove and was a force in pass protection as well as the run game down the stretch. He was also one of just five players, and the only offensive lineman at that, to play all 17 games for Seattle. Interesting decision coming up for Seahawks whether or not to re-sign him.

Colby Patnode: After a mediocre - at best - start to 2021 in which he gave up a bunch of sacks in the first eight games, Brown cranked up the afterburners following a loss to the Packers in Week 10 and was simply sensational down the stretch. He only gave up one sack in the last nine games, looking more like his typical Pro Bowl-caliber self protecting Russell Wilson. Brown is a free agent and should be of high priority for John Schneider this spring as the anchor to an offensive line that finally found its groove in Shane Waldron's scheme in the final month of play.

Gabe Jackson

Corbin Smith: If this award was based solely on the final eight games, Duane Brown would be the pick. But looking back at the season in its entirety, Brown got cooked by opposing pass rushers in the first half and Jackson quietly had a solid, yet unspectacular, first season with the Seahawks. After being acquired from the Raiders for a fifth-round pick last March, the veteran guard started in 16 of Seattle's 17 games, allowing just three sacks and four quarterback hits on 574 pass blocking snaps. While Pro Football Focus did charge him with 37 pressures, the most on the team, he finished strong allowing two or fewer pressures in three of the final four games he played in. Using his powerful 335-pound frame to drive defenders off the ball, Jackson's impact in the run game also can't be understated, as he played an important role opening up creases for Rashaad Penny in three of his four games with 130 or more rushing yards. Like the rest of the line, his play seemed to step up towards the end of the year, a good sign as he enters his second season with the franchise.