What happened with Tyler Lockett and the Seattle Seahawks this offseason was emotionally difficult. He was a long-time fan favorite who was well past 30 years old, very expensive, and was producing far less than he had in previous seasons. The team needed to create cap room, and one way to save $17 million was by releasing Lockett.
That happened before free agency began. Many 12s likely hoped that Lockett would return on a cheap contract for at least a season. After all, he still had ties to the franchise in the form of being the official realtor of the team. He was only going to be WR3, at best, and he still had good hands.
Any dreams of Lockett returning are now gone. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the wide receiver is signing a one-year deal worth as much as $6 million with the Tennessee Titans.
Former Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett signs with the Titans
None of this is Lockett's fault. He probably would rather be playing with the Seahawks. Unlike quarterback Geno Smith and fellow receiver DK Metcalf, Lockett did not ask to be traded this offseason. General manager John Schneider honored those requests and traded Smith and Metcalf shortly after they were made.
Lockett's release always seemed like a sad foregone conclusion. He was no longer playing at a level that had a $30 million cap hit. Few players produce at that level. After Jaxon Smith-Njigba's ascension in 2024, even with Metcalf gone, Lockett was not going to sniff being WR1 again.
This was especially true after the Seahawks signed wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Marquez Valdes-Scantling in free agency. Lockett would have had to return at something closer to the veteran minimum, rather than the up to $6 million he received with the Titans. Whether Lockett and Seattle even had any discussions about his return might never be known.
Still, while Seattle is a long way from Nashville, chances are, many Seahawks fans will be rooting for Lockett when 12s are not watching Seattle play. He deserves that. He brought fans a lot of great memories, and even though he will be with Tennessee in 2025, he will always remain a Seahawk.
The question now is whether Seattle will choose to take a wide receiver early in the 2025 NFL Draft. Kupp and MVS might be fine, but both are, like Lockett, over 30 years old. Seattle needs to get younger at the position.