The Seattle Seahawks have an attention-grabbing offseason developing with their broad receiver group. Jaxon Smith-Njigba had an excellent second season and led the staff in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns, however the mainstays on this staff are DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.
ESPN contributor Aaron Schatz, greatest recognized for his DVOA metric (now at FTN Fantasy after Soccer Outsiders’ extinction), lately penned an article outlining daring strikes each NFL staff ought to make over the subsequent couple of months. For the Seahawks, he believes the daring transfer is to shake up the receiver group by parting methods with Lockett… and Metcalf.
The Seahawks missed the playoffs regardless of a 10-7 report and the offense was a little bit of a disappointment, rating simply 18th within the league in DVOA. Broad receivers DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett have two of the three highest cap numbers on the roster — quarterback Geno Smith has the opposite — and neither was as productive as Jaxon Smith-Njigba in 2024. Possibly it’s time to refresh the broad receiver room with some massive modifications.
Lockett, who will flip 33 early subsequent season, had simply 600 receiving yards and two touchdowns final season. He could also be a Seahawks legend, however reducing him will save Seattle $13 million in cap area. The subsequent step could be to commerce Metcalf. His contract voids after the 2025 season, so see what groups just like the Payments and Chargers would give for him proper now. Then use these acquired draft picks so as to add a few younger receivers who can flourish alongside Smith-Njigba.
Lockett as a cap casualty in itself wouldn’t be a daring transfer; it’d actually be a tragic one for sentimental causes given his place in Seahawks historical past. Buying and selling Metcalf is the shock transfer that might point out an enormous rebuild of the Seahawks’ broad receiver group. With all due respect to Jake Bobo, Dareke Younger, Cody White, and others who’re on the roster or anticipated to stay on the roster as tendered free brokers, the depth at this place will get actual freaky by shifting on from two of your high three choices. Bobo has been a serviceable WR4, whereas Younger has three profession targets in three seasons and White has 10 targets in three seasons. That is the place preseason hype and common season actuality are at a complete disconnect.
Except Metcalf is dealt for one more credible and established receiver, the Seahawks must dip into the free agent market the place the likes of Stefon Diggs, Chris Godwin, Keenan Allen, and Amari Cooper are set to be out there. Tee Higgins is technically a free agent but when he indicators his franchise tag or will get a long-term deal whereas tagged then simply go away him out of the equation. Meaning the Seahawks must dip into the draft by voluntarily making a a lot higher want on the place than shifting on from simply Lockett.
I’m not towards retooling this receiver group (learn: parting methods with Lockett) due to the monetary prices in addition to the Seahawks’ present lack of viable contested catch targets on the roster, however buying and selling Metcalf must contain a unprecedented provide that’s too good to refuse. Nothing is stopping them from drafting a large receiver or two (or a supreme pass-catching tight finish); it’s simply not affordable to count on them to be impactful instantly on a staff with ambitions of contending.
Daring transfer to let go of Lockett AND Metcalf? Sure. Proper transfer? Provided that you assume the Seahawks are in want of a heavier roster rebuild.
