The Seattle Seahawks may cut Pro Bowl Wide Receiver, Tyler Lockett to free up cap space before free agency begins next month. Lockett is a potential cap casualty this season, Seattle can save $17 million in 2024 cap space with post-June 1st release designation. However, new Seahawks offensive coordinator, Ryan Grubb is still anticipating a successful season with several receiver weapons. Lockett might miss the chance to be a part of Mike Macdonald’s era and pairing with DK Metcalf again.
The future looks bright for Seattle, but it looks like they may have to let go of some of their veterans. It allows Macdonald to build a new era which he will be looking to do in free agency and in the NFL Draft. The Seahawks could still have one of the best-receiving corps in the league, despite the potential of cutting Lockett. Jaxon Smith-Njigba along with Metcalf and Lockett caught the attention of Grubb upon his arrival to Seattle.
They were all the top three for yards, targets and receptions on the team last season. It’s an exciting time for Grubb but Lockett may miss out on that same feeling on the team. The Seahawks would most likely cut him to continue building the team’s needs. Lockett is due to have a cap hit of $26.9 million, his dead money is $19.8 million.
By the time they release Lockett after June 1st, however, most of the high-quality free agents would be gone. Lockett still put on an illustrious career only making one Pro Bowl in his rookie season in 2016. From being a kick and punt returner, Lockett still has a lot of gas left to land elsewhere.
Seattle Seahawks WR Tyler Lockett is a potential salary cap casualty this season. Seattle can save $17M in 2024 cap space with post-June 1st release designation, via @TannerPhiferNFL @nflrums pic.twitter.com/7dVDqzTtTg
— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) February 17, 2024
The Seattle Seahawks May Cut Pro Bowl Wide Receiver Tyler Lockett
Could the Long-Time Veteran Be Gone?
One thing for sure is that safety, Jamal Adams isn’t returning to the team once free agency begins. The Seahawks have a lot of dead salary cap while still dealing with what to do with three more Seattle players. Seattle has decisions to make about Quandre Diggs, Will Dissly and Bryan Mone. What they could do is let go three out of five of those players, and offer a small deal for the rest.
It’s still going to be a difficult process for the Seahawks to “lock in” on their stars. The team could still work on an extension for Lockett despite having a less productive year last season. He’s arguably the second-best receiver on the team, but he’s a bit smaller so he relies on speed to diminish the coverage to get open. This may open the field for Metcalf and Smith-Njigba to get more targets down the field.
Lockett is still signed through 2025 if they decide to keep on for one more season, then let him go test the market next year After the shocking firing of Pete Carroll, this would be unlikely as a new era is beginning.
Potential Landing Spots for Lockett
Lockett may end up with the New England Patriots, a team that’s rebuilding their entire offense. They have a lot of work to do, looking for their next franchise quarterback after Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe. He may all around come back to Seattle for one more season in his contract year to attract more teams in 2025. A team that could be a sweet deal for Lockett is joining the Texans.
C.J. Stroud and Lockett pairing sounds intriguing rather than him completely restarting in New England.
