March 12 marks the official start of the NFL free agency period, giving teams the green light to begin player negotiations. In anticipation, franchises are already shuffling their rosters to create financial flexibility.
Seattle Seahawks’ veteran wide receiver, Tyler Lockett, has received the news that he will be cut from the team. Lockett, who has dedicated 10 seasons to the Seahawks, boasts the second-highest receiving yards in the team’s history. The big question now is where the 32-year-old will showcase his talent in 2025.
After a decade of playing with the Seahawks, Tyler Lockett faces release.
An era ends as the Seahawks part ways with one of their all-time standout players, wide receiver Tyler Lockett. Over his career in Seattle, Lockett amassed an impressive 8,594 receiving yards and notched 61 touchdowns. The decision to release him seems driven by financial considerations, as the team opts to free themselves from his hefty $17 million salary for the current season, rather than bear the fiscal burden.
Rewind to the 2015 NFL draft, when Lockett was picked up by the Seahawks in the third round from Kansas State. During his tenure, he saw action in 161 games, starting in 134 of them. His debut year was a promising one with 51 catches, 664 yards, and six touchdowns, earning him a spot on the first-team All-Pro—a remarkable feat for any rookie. Interestingly, his rookie stats pale in comparison to his standout performances later on.
Lockett’s 2020 season was truly a highlight, with career-best figures of 100 catches for 1,054 yards and 10 touchdowns. It’s one of only two occasions where he reached double digits in touchdowns for a season. However, with the march of time, his output saw a decline over the last couple of years, particularly as Jaxson Smith-Njigba, a fresh draft pick, took over Lockett’s WR2 slot for the Seahawks in 2024.
Free from his contract with Seattle, Lockett is now at liberty to explore new opportunities and is not bound by the March 12 free agency date like others. There’s a possibility his journey could lead him to Las Vegas where Pete Carroll, his former Seahawks coach, will be taking the helm. Given that the 2025 draft class isn’t being hailed as strong, many teams may find a seasoned player like Lockett to be an enticing and affordable addition. As the offseason unfolds, it will be interesting to see where Lockett lands next.
