Could Seattle Seahawks Look to Move Tyler Lockett At Some Point in 2024 Season?

While he doesn't look to be going anywhere right now, depending how the season turns outs, Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett could be a midseason trade target.
Dec 10, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) stands on the field before the start of the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 10, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) stands on the field before the start of the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports / Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
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The Seattle Seahawks have employed Tyler Lockett since they selected him with the No. 69 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.

As one of the best receivers in franchise history embarks on the 10th season of his tenure with the franchise, there's reason to believe it could also potentially be the last, even if the player has publicly stated he doesn't want to hear anymore about trade rumors.

When considering which NFL teams could be aggressive sellers during the 2024 season, Bleacher Report writer Alex Ballentine suggested that the Seahawks could look to move on from Lockett at some point this season.

"It certainly doesn't hurt to build up a stockpile of picks when they might be in the market to replace Geno Smith at quarterback next offseason," Ballentine writes. "If they decide to go that route they would have a few trade assets who could net a good return. Tyler Lockett is the most notable. He signed a new contract this offseason, but he still only has two years left on his deal. A trade this season would clear $14.9 million in cap space."

Lockett is still very valuable and helpful towards winning for the Seahawks. Last season, he caught 79 passes for 894 yards and five touchdowns. It was the first season since 2017 where Lockett failed to hit 900 yards, but part of that had to do with 2023 first-round pick Jaxon Smith-Njigba's inclusion in the offense. He also has a contract that would be prohibitive to trade right now, as trading him would only open up $5 million in cap space after restructuring his contract this spring.

The presence of Smith-Njigba is a big reason why the Seahawks could afford to part ways with Lockett down the road, and moving him at midseason wouldn't incur near as big of a dead cap hit. With the second-year wideout being the future at the position, as he continues to improve his game, the less Lockett will be needed on offense.

While Lockett provides tremendous value on and off the field, the reasons to trade or move on from him continue to warrant a discussion. But as long as Seattle remains in contention for a playoff spot, don't expect shipping him elsewhere to be a top priority. If the team does struggle out of the gate, the door could open for a bit of a selling spree.


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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.