Who could return kicks and punts for the Seahawks in 2020?

Over the last five seasons, the Seahawks have had the luxury of Tyler Lockett as on of the best kick and punt returners in the NFL. An All-Pro returner as a rookie in 2015, Lockett has been the go-to guy for Seattle on kicks and punts since he was drafted.

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But could Lockett’s time returning kicks and punts be over?

Kick and punt returns are plays where injuries are extremely common and Lockett has emerged as quarterback Russell Wilson’s No. 1 target the last two seasons, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Seahawks wanted to relegate Lockett to a receiver-only role for 2020 and beyond.

Additionally, Lockett got injured in Week 10 last season and his special teams duties were given to other players who are still on Seattle’s roster. The Seahawks also drafted two players who have return experience during college.

So who could we see returning kicks and punts for 2020? Let’s take a closer look.

Returning players

WR Tyler Lockett

If the Seahawks think Lockett can continue to pull double duty as a receiver and returner, he’s the best choice for the job due to his track record at the pro level.

Lockett, a 2015-third round pick, has 1,068 career punt return yards and one return touchdown. Something to note, however, is that his yards per return has decreased every season since entering the league.

Lockett has also been successful returning kicks, as he has 3,179 career kick return yards and two kick return touchdowns. He’s been consistent in that role, but 2019 was the only season he’s averaged less than 25 yards per kick return, when he averaged 19.9 yards per return.

WR David Moore

With Lockett not 100-percent healthy, receiver David Moore was Seattle’s punt returner for 2019.

Last year, Moore returned 10 punts and accumulated for 75 yards. He also returned two punts for 15 yards in the playoffs.

The numbers don’t really jump out, but Moore has shown he can be dangerous with the ball in his hands on offense by making defenders miss. That’s critical on kick and punt returns.

But head coach Pete Carroll giving the punt return duties to Moore after Lockett’s injury could be a sign that he could emerge as the guy for that role going forward.

RB Travis Homer

2019 sixth-round pick Travis Homer didn’t get to play much at running back until late in the season, but he was a regular contributor on special teams when the Seahawks kicked off and punted.

After Lockett got injured, he also added kick returner to his list of assignments despite only returning one kick during his time at Miami in college. While the NFL has made it much easier to take touchbacks on kickoffs due to the ball being kicked from the 35-yard line and also team’s getting the ball at their own 25 rather than the 20 like it had been for many years, Homer had some success, returning five kicks for 109 yards.

He hasn’t returned punts at either the pro or college levels, but that could always go to someone else if Homer only handled kickoff duties.

CB Ugo Amadi

Fellow 2019 rookie Ugo Amadi didn’t return kicks or punts during the regular season, but before games, he was one of a handful of Seahawks who took reps practicing at returner.

Amadi was a very successful punt returner his senior year at Oregon. During his final season with the Ducks, Amadi returned 14 punts for 223 yards and a touchdown. He didn’t return any kicks in his collegiate career.

Amadi has been described as a playmaker, which he showed in college by scoring three defensive touchdowns to go along with the punt return touchdown. It appeared that Amadi returned an interception for a touchdown in Week 15 of last year, but it was reviewed and called an incomplete pass.

If the Seahawks want to test his playmaking ability, having Amadi return punts would make a lot of sense.

RB Rashaad Penny

If Rashaad Penny was healthy, he may be the favorite to return kicks if the Seahawks took the duties away from Lockett.

Penny was a force as a returner in college at San Diego State, returning 81 kicks for 2,449 yards and seve touchdowns. He also returned a punt for a score his senior year.

Penny has had a few kick returns since he was drafted in 2018, returning 11 kicks for 188 yards.

The issue with Penny is his knee, as he tore his ACL late last season. The injury could cause him to miss regular season action.

Additionally, Penny may be tasked with being Seattle’s lead back in 2021, as starter Chris Carson’s contract is up after 2020. If that’s the case, the Seahawks may not feel comfortable featuring their starting running back so prominently on special teams. If he comes back healthy and faster than expected, he may be someone they roll out for kick returns.

WR Penny Hart

This is a bit of a darkhorse.

Penny Hart is a short (5-8) receiver who spent time on the Seahawks’ practice squad in 2019 as an undrafted rookie. He signed a future/reserve contract after the season.

While Hart has no NFL game experience as either a receiver or returner, his return stats at Georgia State are hard to ignore.

Hart returned 16 punts for 200 yards during his college carer, with 158 yards coming on nine returns as a senior. One of those returns went for a touchdown.

He also had success as a kick returner, with 15 returns going for 299 yards his senior season.

The Seahawks have some receivers ahead of Hart on the depth chart, such as Lockett, DK Metcalf, Moore, Phillip Dorsett, John Ursua and Freddie Swain, he could add enough on special teams to warrant a roster spot going forward.

The rookies

RB DeeJay Dallas

The Seahawks took two offensive players from the state of Florida in the most recent draft, the first of which being Miami running back DeeJay Dallas.

Dallas, a 2020 fourth-round pick, could be featured more prominently on offense due to Penny’s injury if he is able to surpass Homer on the depth chart, but his ability as a returner may be where he makes his mark during his rookie season.

In 2019, Dallas only returned one kick, but in 2018, he had good success with both kicks and punts.

Dallas has 11 punt returns for 191 yards and a touchdown and 17 kick returns for 367 yards.

It’s unclear how much of an impact Dallas will have on offense with Carson, Penny and Homer all on the roster, but he could have a chance to emerge as a prominent returner for the Seahawks right away.

WR Freddie Swain

Swain, a receiver from the University of Florida, also had his share of success as a returner in college.

Like Dallas, Swain did the majority of his returns in 2018, when he returned 22 punts for 224 yards and a touchdown. Overall, Swain racked up 308 yards on 39 punt returns. He also returned four kicks for 56 yards.

Swain, a 2020 sixth-round pick, will likely start the season behind Lockett, Metcalf, Dorsett, Moore and maybe even Ursua, on the depth chart, but, like Dallas, he could make an impact on special teams, potentially as a returner.

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