After June 1, a longtime Seattle Seahawks veteran may be cut or traded.
Wide receiver Tyler Lockett, as suggested by Tony Catalina of the Pro Football Network, may be a viable possibility. If the Seahawks dismiss or trade Lockett after June 1, they will save $17 million while taking a $9.9 million dead cap charge.
Catalina contends that as the Seahawks’ roster continues to age, particularly under the leadership of first-year head coach Mike Macdonald, moving the 31-year-old Lockett may be prudent.
“Trading or cutting Lockett with a post-June 1 designation would save Seattle $17 million with a roughly $9.9 million dead cap hit, setting up a situation where the Seahawks are able to save money while also beginning more of a youth movement around a team that appears to be getting younger,” Catalina writes.
Tyler Lockett Remains Go-To Receiver for Seahawks
Lockett has been with the Seahawks since 2015, when he was selected in the third round of the NFL. The 5-foot-10 receiver is Seattle’s longest-tenured player, having been a starter since 2015.
While Lockett will be 32 years old by the 2024 season, he remains a prolific weapon and the team’s second-best receiver. Lockett actually led the team in receptions and was second in receiving yards and touchdowns. His 122 targets also led the Seahawks, with three more than top receiver D.K. Metcalf.
However, Seattle has Jaxon Smith-Njigba, a 2023 first-round draft pick, waiting in the wings. Smith-Njigba had a good first season as the team’s third option, totaling 63 receptions for 628 yards and four touchdowns. It’s only a matter of time – if not this season – before the Seahawks begin targeting Smith-Njigba as their second option.
The move makes perfect sense from a salary cap standpoint. Lockett signed to a reworked contract in the summer that will pay him $30 million over two years, with a maximum value of $34 million and over $13 million guaranteed this season.
According to Bryan DeArdo of CBS Sports:
“By virtue of his restructure, Lockett’s cap hit over the next two years dropped from $53,790,000 to $30 million,” says DeArdo. “By restructuring his contract, Lockett will go from making $27 million this season to somewhere in the ballpark of $15 million-$17 million.”
Why Seahawks Unloading Tyler Lockett in 2024 Doesn’t Make Sense
It’s worth noting that the maximum savings ($17 million) would take effect for the 2025 season.
Given that the Seahawks are entering their first year under a new head coach and are expected to compete for a postseason place, Lockett’s release makes little sense. If a worthwhile trade offer comes in, it is a more likely scenario. However, given that Lockett was the Seahawks’ leading receiver last season, it would have to be a draft pick worth offloading.
The more likely scenario is that Seattle retains Lockett, with the veteran receiver playing a less role on offense. The Seahawks’ decision to release Lockett makes little sense, and it’s difficult to imagine teams lining up to sign a receiver who is about to turn 32 and has a salary figure of more than $18 million.
