Tyler Lockett

Raiders Could Both Sign And Draft A WR

April 12th, 2025 at 4:35pm CST by Ely Allen

While having a record-setter at tight end does kind of mask other shortcomings in the passing game for the Raiders, there still seems to be a noticeable need for help at wide receiver. According to Tashan Reed of The Athletic, help could come through both free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft this offseason. Per Reed, Las Vegas is likely to sign a veteran receiver, but it won’t prevent them from drafting one, as well.

The Raiders do currently roster starting-caliber wide receivers in Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker, but after the departure of Davante Adams last year, they struggled to find contributions from a supporting cast of DJ Turner, Terrace Marshall, Alex Bachman, and company. Besides Meyers and Tucker, the returning roster in 2025 combined for only 56 total yards with contributions from Bachman (31 yards), Kristian Wilkerson (18), and Ramel Keyton (7). The only addition to the group so far has been former Titans wide receiver Kyle Phillips, who totaled 259 yards over two years in Tennessee and didn’t play last season.

There are a number of impact options the team could sign before or after the draft, depending on the approach they’d like to take. Spending more money on more established veterans by signing Keenan Allen or reuniting with Amari Cooper could allow them to take a later flyer in the draft on a wide receiver who may need time to develop. Otherwise, Las Vegas could fetch a bargain on veterans like Diontae Johnson, Tyler Lockett, Robert Woods, Nelson Agholor, DJ Chark, or Tyler Boyd, which would put more pressure on them to find a more impactful rookie receiver in the draft.

The team isn’t expected to go after a pass catcher in the first round. At No. 6 overall, the team has been linked more to options like Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham, or Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker. More likely, Vegas could attempt to address wide receiver at the top of the second round, should they fail to land Allen or Cooper in free agency. At No. 37 overall, options like Texas’ Matthew Golden, Missouri’s Luther Burden, and Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka could all be around, as they’re all considered to be fringe first-rounders.

Las Vegas has nine draft picks this year, so they should have plenty of other options throughout the three-day event. Meyers, 6-foot-2, is effective as a reliable possession receiver who excels at getting open in the slot, and Tucker, at 5-foot-9, is a more dynamic speedster with some deep ball potential.

With that in mind, the team could opt to add a big-bodied red-zone target. Players like TCU’s Savion Williams (just under 6-foot-4), Tennessee’s Dont’e Thornton (6-foot-4.5), or Arkansas’ Isaac TeSlaa (6-foot-3.5) could all be sizeable options as Day 3 picks. More versatile, mid-size options could be another area to look at for the Raiders. Prospects like TCU’s Jack Bech and Stanford’s Elic Ayomanor could be solid Day 2 options, while SEC pass catchers like Keandre Lambert-Smith (Auburn), Chimere Dike (Florida), and Arian Smith (Georgia) could be names to watch on Day 3.

However they choose to go about it, Las Vegas has plenty of options on the table for addressing their receiving corps. Whether they choose to bring in a big-name veteran and take a later flyer in the draft or sign a solid role-player and go after one of the draft’s better receiving prospects, there’s no shortage of possible combinations that we could see in silver and black next year.

Broncos Were Only Interested In Cooper Kupp, Stefon Diggs At Reduced Rate; Team Still In Veteran WR Market?

March 30th, 2025 at 12:15pm CST by Rory Parks

Prior to his March release, the Broncos were reportedly uninterested in trading for former Rams receiver Cooper Kupp. Once Kupp became a free agent, though, there was said to be mutual interest in a Kupp-Denver relationship.

Nonetheless, Mike Klis of 9News.com hears the Broncos’ involvement in the Kupp sweepstakes was cursory at best, thanks largely to the receiver’s asking price. If the club could have landed the Super Bowl LVI MVP at a discounted rate, it might have done so. But once it became clear no discount would be forthcoming, Klis said Denver did not pursue Kupp (who ultimately signed a three-year, $45MM deal with the Seahawks).

The Broncos were never publicly connected to Stefon Diggs, whose reworked contract with the Texans expired at the end of the 2024 season. Klis says the club would have been interested in Diggs if he could have been had at a discount, but as was the case with Kupp, it soon became apparent the four-time Pro Bowler was not interested in a pillow contract. And he did not need to be, as he recently signed a three-year, $69MM accord with the Patriots.

To be clear, Klis is not suggesting Denver was motivated by frugality here. Head coach Sean Payton said back in February that he felt more highly of his cadre of wideouts than some league observers, and assuming that was not simply coach-speak, it stands to reason that the club would not overextend itself for 30-something WRs who are dealing with recent injury and production concerns.

The team was prioritizing a tight end upgrade, and it accomplished that goal by scooping up Jaguars cap casualty Evan Engram, who should provide a notable boost to the passing game. Plus, even though their Kupp and Diggs interest did not get past the preliminary stage, the fact that they made inquiries at all suggests to Klis that the Broncos – Payton’s comments notwithstanding – are still in the veteran receiver market. Which makes sense, given the lack of proven production on the team’s depth chart behind WR1 Courtland Sutton.

In Klis’ estimation, Keenan Allen and Elijah Moore are two of the most logical free agents for Denver to pursue, with Tyler Lockett representing another possibility. Adding a player like that would lessen the team’s urgency to select a wideout early in April’s draft while also providing a worthy complement to Sutton and breakout candidate Marvin Mims.

Seahawks Release WR Tyler Lockett

March 5th, 2025 at 11:42am CST by Sam Robinson

Tyler Lockett indicated late last season he might be on the way out in Seattle. Weeks later, the Seahawks are expected to move on. Lockett thanked the team for a 10-season run Wednesday.

He will be released soon, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, as the Seahawks have also since thanked Lockett for his run with the team. This will wrap one of the longest WR careers in team history and send yet another accomplished early-30-something wideout to the market.

Due a $5.3MM roster bonus on Day 5 of the 2025 league year, Lockett will now join Davante Adams, Stefon Diggs, Amari Cooper, DeAndre Hopkins and Keenan Allen as mid-2010s receiver draftees in free agency. The Seahawks chose Lockett in the 2015 third round and saw him form productive tandems with Doug Baldwin and D.K. Metcalf. With the team having seen Jaxon Smith-Njigba make major strides in 2024, carrying both Metcalf and Lockett will not remain feasible.

An obvious Lockett landing spot would be the Raiders, as Pete Carroll coached the former 1,000-yard pass catcher for his first nine seasons. Carroll still holds Lockett in high regard, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets. Jakobi Meyers is going into a contract year, as the Raiders cut the cord on Adams last October. They will be in search of a No. 1-level wideout, but Lockett would help a team as a complementary target at this stage of his career.

This is not a post-June 1 cut, which means Lockett can sign elsewhere immediately. This gives him a head start on the Cooper-Diggs-Allen-Hopkins contingent; Adams can also sign somewhere now. This release will save the Seahawks $17MM, and it comes after the team created more than $27MM in cap space by cutting Dre’Mont Jones, Rayshawn Jenkins, Roy Robertson-Harris and George Fant. After entering Tuesday over the cap, the team is now up to $32MM in space.

As Smith-Njigba made significant strides in Year 2, Lockett posted just 600 receiving yards in 17 games. The four-time 1,000-yard pass catcher had already taken a backseat to Metcalf, but he was at 894 yards in Carroll’s final season. The former Russell Wilson weapon arrived just after the team’s back-to-back Super Bowl appearances. Lockett’s 8,594 receiving yards trail only Hall of Famer Steve Largent in Seahawks history.

The Seahawks had given Lockett extensions in 2018 (three years, $31.8MM) and ’21 (four years, $69.2MM). Lockett, 32, also agreed to a reworking last year. It adjusted Lockett’s contract to a two-year, $30MM deal that created the $5.3MM roster bonus. That put a 2025 release on the radar, as the Seahawks will not pay him the roster bonus nor the $10MM base salary he was owed. But Lockett should catch on elsewhere soon. With so many comparable players on the market, Lockett may not be able to fetch a deal that even matches his 2018 payday for AAV. With Adams and Lockett available, teams seeking veteran WR help have many places to turn.

Seahawks To Begin Geno Smith Extension Talks

February 25th, 2025 at 1:43pm CST by Adam La Rose

Geno Smith was unable to secure a Seahawks extension last offseason, but he is still firmly in the team’s plans for 2025 and beyond. Talks on a new pact are set to commence.

When speaking to the media on Tuesday, general manager John Schneider said (via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times) the Seahawks will begin negotiation on an extension this week. He added no firm deadline is in place but repeated the organization’s stance that having Smith under center now and in the future is still a priority. One year remains on the veteran’s current contract.

Smith is owed $25MM in 2025 as things stand, though – a mark well below the market for veteran starters. His cap hit of $44.5MM is also a cumbersome figure for a Seahawks team which is among those slated to be over the projected cap once the new league year begins in March. A multi-year commitment in the 34-year-old will carry risks for Seattle, of course, but he has posted a winning record during each of his three full seasons as the team’s starter.

Head coach Mike Macdonald has made it clear he wants Smith to remain in place for 2025 and beyond, and a report from the Super Bowl indicated a new arrangement (through a restructure or an extension) could be expected. During Seattle’s offensive coordinator search, the prospect of coaching Smith was an obvious talking point. Klint Kubiak said the opportunity to coach Smith played a role in his decision to head to Seattle.

While the former Comeback Player of the Year intends to continue his career to the age of 40, it came as no surprise when a December report indicated the Seahawks will look into options to succeed Smith this offseason. That could still result in a QB addition through the draft, but no change atop the depth chart will be forthcoming if a deal can be reached. Smith inked a three-year, $75MM pact in 2023; it will be interesting to see where his asking price lands this time around.

Schneider also confirmed (via Condotta) Seattle has engaged in contract talks with linebacker Ernest Jones. The trade acquisition proved to be a productive addition, but team and player paused negotiations at the end of the campaign. The Seahawks still hope to get a deal done with the pending free agent, though, and the looming start of the league year could spur action.

As for wideout Tyler Lockett, Schneider added conversations will take place with his agents. Lockett’s future in the Emerald City has been in question given his lack of guaranteed money for 2025 (the final year of his deal) and scheduled cap hit of nearly $31MM. Schneider is unsure of whether or not Lockett will return next year, but there is a strong chance the Seahawks will have continuity under center moving forward.

Tyler Lockett Plans To Play In 2025; WR’s Seahawks Future In Doubt

January 2nd, 2025 at 9:01am CST by Adam La Rose

Tyler Lockett has spent his entire 10-year career with the Seahawks, and his tenure with the team will include at least one more game. The veteran wideout is aware he could be on the move this offseason, but he has given no thought to retirement at this point.

Lockett and the Seahawks agreed to a restructure last March which upped his earnings for 2024 but left him on track to carry a cap hit of nearly $31MM next season. Without any guaranteed salary on the books for 2024, Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic notes the strong possibility remains Lockett will be let go in a cost-cutting move this offseason (subscription required). D.K. Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba are on track to remain in Seattle for years to come, but Lockett recently acknowledged Week 18 could mark his Seahawks finale.

The 32-year-old has been a staple in the passing game since his arrival and early seasons as a complement to Doug Baldwin. Lockett has since gone on to form a strong tandem with Metcalf, but the decision to add Smith-Njigba in the first round of the 2023 draft signaled Seattle’s trio at the WR spot would soon become a tandem. Indeed, Lockett has failed to see triple-digit targets for the first time since 2018 this season, and his 572 yards and two touchdowns fall well short of his previous production. The former third-rounder knows his role has been reduced in 2024 (something which could impact his free agent market), but he is content with that as his Seattle tenure likely draws to a close.

“If there’s any way that I want to win as a person, I want to win as a team,” Lockett said (via Dugar). “When it comes to me getting the ball, I want it to be something that’s natural and not forced or not me having to say, ‘Hey, man, give me the ball.’”

Metcalf drew trade interest leading up to November’s deadline, but to no surprise the Seahawks did not consider moving him. The Ole Miss product is only under contract for 2025 as things stand, and with no locked in salary and a similarly high cap hit on tap an extension could be in store relatively soon. Smith-Njigba’s rookie contract runs for another two seasons, meanwhile, and the fifth-year option could keep him under team control through at least 2027.

Lockett could have value to any number of suitors eyeing a receiver addition in the offseason, although his declining production will limit his earning potential on his next contract. It will be interesting to see if he and the Seahawks attempt to work out a new arrangement after the campaign, but in the event he is released he will soon need to turn his attention to his first trip to free agency.

Seahawks, Tyler Lockett Agree To Restructure

March 14th, 2024 at 9:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

TODAY, 9:00pm: ESPN’s Brady Henderson has passed along some details on Lockett’s reworked contract. The receiver will receive an $8MM signing bonus for his effort. Lockett will be attached to a $4.66MM base salary in 2024, and he can earn another $4MM via incentives.

In 2025, Lockett will earn a $10MM base salary, and he can earn another $1.7MM via per-game roster bonuses. He’ll also earn a $5.3MM roster bonus due on the fifth day of the 2025 league year.

MARCH 9, 8:30pm: Tyler Lockett‘s future has achieved clarity for at least the 2024 season. The veteran Seahawks wideout’s contract has been restructured, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

The new deal is two years in length and has a base value of $30MM. That figure includes almost $13MM guaranteed for the 2024 campaign, Garafolo notes. Lockett can reach a maximum of $34MM in earnings over the course of the restructured contract, which will take the place of his previous one.

Lockett had two years remaining on his former deal, but his compensation in 2024 and ’25 ($17MM) was far outweighed by his cap hits for those seasons ($26.9MM). As a result, the 31-year-old could have found himself as a cap casualty (particularly with a post-June 1 designation) as part of the Seahawks’ financial maneuvering. Seattle has cut ties with several veterans recently, but Lockett will not join them for at least this offseason.

Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap predicts this new pact will lower Lockett’s 2024 cap hit by roughly $10MM, something which will be welcomed for Seattle. The team entered Saturday with $42MM in cap space, but added flexibility on the open market could allow for more outside additions in the hopes of rebounding from the 2023 season failing to produce a postseason appearance. The move will also give Lockett at least a 10th campaign in the Emerald City while also providing an opportunity for a personal bounce-back.

The former All-Pro posted 894 yards and five touchdowns in 2023. Both figures marked his lowest since 2018, and the presence of not only D.K. Metcalf and 2023 first-rounder Jaxon Smith-Njigba made a mark on his role. Lockett drew more targets (122) than Smith-Njigba (93), but that balance could shift toward the latter as time goes on. Each member of Seattle’s top receiver trio is under contract through at least 2025, although Lockett could again face questions about his future next offseason. It will be interesting to see the details of his new contract and his ability to earn an extended stay through his play in 2024.

Seahawks WR Tyler Lockett Expected To Return In Week 17

December 30th, 2022 at 6:33pm CST by Adam La Rose

DECEMBER 30: Lockett has been listed as questionable for Sunday but is expected to play, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network tweets. While that would fall in line with the expected timeline for his post-op recovery, it would still represent an impressive return only 13 days removed from surgery. The veteran had a plate and 10 screws inserted into his hand, as noted (on Twitter) by Condotta.

Lockett’s participation will likely come down to game time, after he practiced in a limited capacity on Thursday and in full today. His return could take on added significance for Seattle’s offense if Goodwin – who is listed as doubtful with shoulder and wrist injuries – is unable to suit up.

DECEMBER 26: The Seahawks’ playoff chances took a hit this weekend with their loss to the Chiefs, but they could receive a significant boost on offense in the coming days. Wideout Tyler Lockett has undergone hand surgery and now has a chance to return before the end of the regular season.

Head coach Pete Carroll provided an encouraging update on the situation, adding that the veteran could be recovered in time to suit up for Week 17 (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times). That comes as little surprise given the fact that Lockett’s choice with respect to the procedure he underwent was made with the intention of coming back in time to close out the campaign.

His return would be a welcomed sight, of course, considering his importance to Seattle’s offense. The 30-year-old sits second on the team in receiving yards, and was well on his way to eclipsing the 1,000-yard plateau for the fourth consecutive season prior to suffering the injury. Lockett has been instrumental in the Seahawks enjoying a surprising level of efficiency in the passing game (they rank ninth in the league with an average of 259 yards per game) as they move into the post-Russell Wilson era.

The four-year extension he signed last offseason also makes Lockett a significant member of the team from a financial perspective. His cap hit is scheduled to jump to $16.75MM next season, then 23.95MM for each of the following two years. One of the team’s – and league’s – most consistent producers, the former third-rounder was a logical candidate for that deal in no small part due to his durability. Saturday marked only the second game in his career which he missed due to injury.

If he is able to play on New Year’s Day, the Seahawks would once again have their 1-2 tandem of Lockett and D.K. Metcalf available. That would be ideal given the drop-off in production between those two and fellow wideout Marquise Goodwin, who was held without a catch in the game against Kansas City. Seattle now sits at 7-8 having lost three straight, but they still have a realistic chance at a postseason berth with games against the Jets and Rams remaining, particularly if Lockett can play in those contests.

Seahawks’ Tyler Lockett Uncertain To Return This Season

December 16th, 2022 at 12:06pm CST by Sam Robinson

12:06pm: The longtime Seahawk will opt for a surgery that could have him back after just one missed game, Rapoport tweets. This would obviously be a major boon to Seattle’s playoff hopes, but a firm timetable will not be established until after the procedure.

8:34am: Tyler Lockett has never faced an extended injury-related absence as a pro, missing only two games throughout an eight-year career. But the Seahawks will need to get by without him during a crucial stretch.

After Pete Carroll confirmed Lockett suffered a broken index finger during the Seahawks’ loss to the 49ers on Thursday night, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport notes the injury will sideline the longtime starter for at least two games. Lockett is not a lock to return this season, representing a blow the team has not had to navigate previously.

Attached to his third Seahawks contract — a four-year, $69MM deal — Lockett has missed one game due to injury. That came back in 2016. His other absence, last season, came due to COVID-19. Lockett has been a constant for Russell Wilson and now Geno Smith, but the sliding Seahawks (7-7) will need to turn to other options alongside D.K. Metcalf going forward.

Carroll said Lockett likely suffered the spiral metacarpal crack while trying to make a catch during Seattle’s final drive. Lockett will undergo surgery, and while the notoriously optimistic Carroll said there were multiple options regarding an operation — including one that could allow Lockett to play again this season — the 30-year-old target had not determined which route he would go here.

If Lockett is shut down, he will fall just short of a fourth 1,000-yard receiving season. The second-generation NFL wideout is sitting on a team-leading 964 yards and eight touchdowns, seeing his six-game TD streak come to an end against San Francisco. After leading the way as the Seahawks transitioned following Doug Baldwin‘s retirement, Lockett has been a considerable aid to Smith’s surprising season.

The Seahawks have Marquise Goodwin positioned to see his role expand because of Lockett’s injury. Given a one-year deal worth the league minimum, Goodwin sits third among Seahawks wideout production this season. The former Olympic long jumper has 27 catches for 387 yards and three touchdowns. Former second-round pick Dee Eskridge is on IR and has just seven catches for 58 yards 10 games into his second season.

Seahawks Activate WR Tyler Lockett From Reserve/COVID-19 List

December 23rd, 2021 at 10:40pm CST by Ben Levine

The Seahawks will welcome back a key offensive player on Sunday. Following a one-game absence, wideout Tyler Lockett has been activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Lockett tested positive for the virus last week, forcing him to miss Tuesday’s loss to the Rams. Russell Wilson and the offense had issues in the passing game, and head coach Pete Carroll referred to the receiver’s absence following the loss.

“I’m sick that we didn’t have a chance to play with Tyler in this game because this is the kind of game that he would have been a factor in for sure,” Carroll said (via ESPN’s Brady Henderson).

The 29-year-old has already exceeded 1,000 receiving yards for the third-straight year. In 13 starts this season, Lockett has hauled in 62 receptions for 1,023 receiving yards and five touchdowns.

While the Seahawks are welcoming back Lockett, they still have a number of players remaining on the reserve/COVID-19 list, including tight end Will Dissly, running back Travis Homer, defensive end Kerry Hyder, cornerback D.J. Reed, offensive tackle Brandon Shell, and defensive tackle Bryan Mone (h/t to Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com).

Tyler Lockett Wants To Finish Career With Seahawks

April 14th, 2021 at 10:55pm CST by Rory Parks

Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett just signed a lucrative contract extension that will take him through the 2025 season, but he already knows how he would like his playing career to end. The 28-year-old wideout told reporters during a meeting with media yesterday that he wants to finish his career with the ‘Hawks (via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times).

“I would love to finish my career as a Seattle Seahawk,” Lockett said. “That’s why I said it was an amazing feeling that they even wanted to keep me on the team even longer. … To just to be able to see how they feel about me, understand how they feel about me, it brings that type of feeling to me that, you know, they want me here just as much as I want to be here.”

The latest extension represents Lockett’s third contract with the team, and as Condotta points out, he is now the only player on Seattle’s roster signed past the 2023 season. He would have been eligible for free agency at the end of the 2021 campaign, but the new deal gave him $37MM in fully-guaranteed cash while lowering his cap hit for this year, so it was a beneficial transaction for both player and team.

Lockett’s warm and fuzzy feelings towards Seattle are perhaps not shared by his quarterback at the moment, and it could be that Lockett’s tenure in the Emerald City will outlast Russell Wilson‘s. But Wilson will be throwing passes to Lockett for at least one more year, and both players will operate within new OC Shane Waldron‘s scheme.

Lockett, who has operated more out of the slot in the past several seasons, hopes to get a little more burn outside the numbers in Waldron’s offense. But wherever he lines up, he is excited about what the future holds after seeing Waldron’s work with the Rams’ passing game in recent years.

“I mean even when we watched the Rams and how they did a lot of things, they did a lot of great things,” Lockett said. “They utilize people in a lot of great ways. And just with the opportunity to be able to have Shane come in, I think there’s a lot of things that we can learn. There’s a lot of things he brings to the table…”

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