The Seattle Seahawks do not have any cap room in 2025, so several players under contract for next season will need to be released or have their contracts re-worked. This includes a number of fan favorites, unfortunately. But the team has to make good financial decisions to set up success beyond next year, too.
Players not on the list below but who could have played their final games with the Seahawks are quarterback Geno Smith and wide receiver DK Metcalf. Both are somewhat divisive among 12s, so they cannot truly be listed as fan favorites. The team could save $25 million by releasing Smith. Metcalf might be Seattle's best trade chip other than possibly cornerback Devon Witherspoon.
The first player listed might be among the top five fan favorites in Seattle history. Few would be happy if he left. Again, though, tough financial decisions must be made.
Fan favorites who might not be returning to the Seattle Seahawks in 2025
Wide receiver Tyler Lockett
There is likely no bigger fan favorite on the Seahawks roster than Lockett. He has developed into Seattle's second-most productive receiver ever, well behind Steve Largent but still..., and he has been a terrific human being. No one wants to see the receiver not be a Seahawk, but he is getting older, is far less productive, and is extremely expensive.
In 2025, Lockett's cap hit is north of $30 million. The team would save $17 million by moving on from him. In 2024, he had his lowest number of catches, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns since 2017. He might be a very good WR3, but no team can afford to pay their third-most productive receiver $30 million or more.
Running back George Holani
Holani definitely has a following among 12s and that could partly be because he played at Boise State. Plus, everyone loves an underdog who works hard and just wants to earn a place on the team. The odd part was that Holani was pretty good in training camp, but then injuries set him back a bit.
Getting hurt was one reason Holani did not get drafted. He was productive in college, but also often injured. Running backs must have the ability to play most of the games or the team will give up on them quickly. Such is likely the case with Holani, especially if the Seahawks take a running back anywhere in the 2025 NFL draft.
Defensive tackle Jarran Reed
Reed has been extremely productive as a pass rusher since he returned to Seattle two years ago after being gone for two seasons. He had 48 total pressures, including 4.5 sacks this year after having seven sacks in 2023. He is 32 years old, and that might limit his free agency possibilities, but there could be a team that wants to pay the defensive tackle decent money to be an interior pass rusher.
Seattle is tight against the salary cap in 2025. While the team likely wants to bring Reed back (he has also been a leader in the locker room), it might not be able to afford him. One might hope that Reed takes a proverbial hometown discount, but since he is nearer the end of his career, he may not want to.
Wide receiver Dareke Young
Young is a solid special teams player but has not made much of an impact as a wide receiver. Coming from a small college, lots of 12s would love to see Young succeed, but he might be a roster cut because Seattle might choose to revamp its receiving group this offseason. Tyler Lockett could be released or retires and that means Seattle would have to find another WR3.
This could hurt Young because he certainly cannot be counted on to take Lockett's spot and the Seahawks could choose two receivers in the draft to help replace him. Jake Bobo is going to stick on the team, and so will, presumably, DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Young might end up being the odd man out when roster cuts are made next season. Seattle would also only have $25,275 in dead money tied up with Young.