5 Seattle Seahawks players on the hot seat entering 2024 season

The Seattle Seahawks' expectations for 2024 are a bit all over. Some pundits think with an improved defense, Seattle could get back to the playoffs. Others, for whatever reason, believe Seattle should not win more than six games.

That last part is odd because even with a bad defense the last two seasons, the team has still gone 9-8. The offense should not be any worse this year as most of the offensive weapons return. Plus, the offense might be more efficient with Ryan Grubb as the new offensive coordinator.

The season might rise or fall based on the play of the five players that follow. If even four of them do quite well, Seattle will make the playoffs and be a dangerous team once there. If they fail, those "six wins" pundits might not be far off.

Tyler Lockett - Seahawks wide receiver

Lockett, of course, has never been a bad player. He has evolved from an excellent returner to a fantastic receiver. That does not change the fact that he is getting a bit old for a smaller receiver. Lockett will turn 32 years old early in the 2024 season. He is signed through 2025, and his contract will be very expensive next year.

Still, the receiver had his worst season since 2017 last year. Though he had the second-most targets of his career, he had his second-lowest catches since 2018 and his second-most drops ever. Lockett also had his second-fewest touchdown receptions since 2017. The question is not whether Lockett is Seattle's WR1 anymore, but if he is WR3 now behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Lockett reworked his deal this offseason so he actually makes less money overall. The issue is his cap hit was lowered for 2024 but increases to $30,895,000 in 2025. That is the third-highest in the NFL though we can be assured that Lockett will not be the third-most productive receiver in the league. If nothing else, he will have targets taken away by DK Metcalf and JSN.

Lockett will remain a good player, but if his numbers don't improve much over 2023 then he gets too expensive to keep around, sadly. He is a great person and an all-time great Seahawks player. The NFL is a business, however, and tough decisions have to be made.