2. Poona Ford, DT
After a complete but unspectacular career at Texas, Poona Ford went undrafted in 2018. Luckily, the interior run-stopper got a call from Seattle, where he eventually signed a three-year deal for $1.718 million. However, Ford quickly outgrew his contract and became one of the most efficient players at his position in the NFL.
Ford appeared in 11 games as a rookie, recording 21 tackles. At base value, that doesn’t seem like much, but Pro Football Focus revealed a greater trend. The website gave Ford a 90.3 grade for his rookie season, which ranked first among all defensive rookies.
Poona Ford finished the regular season with an overall grade of 90.3, ranking first among defensive rookies (min. 200 snaps). #Seahawks
— PFF SEA Seahawks (@PFF_Seahawks) January 15, 2019
In his second season, the 24-year-old defensive tackle started 14 games and recorded 32 tackles. Alongside Jarran Reed, hopefully Ford and continue clamping down on opposing running backs.
1. D.K. Metcalf, WR
When D.K. Metcalf fell to the final pick in the second round a year ago, the Seahawks traded up to grab the ultra-athletic receiver. The Seahawks sent New England a third and a fourth-round pick in exchange for the 64th overall selection, which turned into one of the most exciting young receivers in the NFL today.
Metcalf destroyed the NFL combine, posting a ridiculous 4.33-second 40-yard dash. He also finished among the top five wide receivers in the vertical jump (40.5 inches), the board jump (134 inches), and bench press (27 reps). However, concerns about his route running and injury history prevented the Ole Miss product from reaping the rewards of his labor.
Luckily for Seattle, teams left Metcalf on the board until nearly the third-round. When the Seahawks drafted Metcalf, they created a reliable pairing between him and resident starter Tyler Lockett. With Lockett operating underneath and Metcalf taking the top off of defenses, the duo provided Russell Wilson with the best wide receiver combination of his career.
Metcalf finished his rookie season with 58 receptions for 900 yards and seven touchdowns. He also put up some incredible numbers in the playoffs, setting the record for receiving yards by a rookie in a playoff game with 160 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Hopefully, Metcalf will continue expanding and diversifying his game in 2020. He’s still 22 years old.