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Seahawks release Tyler Lockett, ending historic 10-year tenure

For the first time since Tyler Lockett signed his rookie deal in 2015, the veteran wide receiver is not under contract with the Seattle Seahawks.

The 32-year-old Lockett has been released by the Seahawks, the team announced Wednesday morning. It’s a move that was expected this offseason as Seattle faces a salary cap crunch – not that it makes the move any easier for fans, the team or Lockett to take.

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A one-time All-Pro and Pro Bowler, Lockett has spent his entire 10-year pro career to date with Seattle and is one of the greatest wide receivers in team history. He ranks second all-time on the Seahawks leaderboard in receiving yards (8,594), receptions (661) and touchdown catches (61) behind only Hall of Famer Steve Largent, while his 100 receptions in 2020 is a single-season franchise record, which teammate Jaxon Smith-Njigba tied in 2024.

He is also the franchise leader in career punt returns, second in total punt return yards, fourth in kick return yards, and tied for fourth in kick returns.

Lockett shared a statement on social media once his release was made public.

I really enjoyed being in Seattle! I met so many great people and captured so many great memories! The 12’s really make this place meaningful! Although, my time on the Seahawks may have run its course I’m thankful for everything!!God gets all the glory forever!!!! pic.twitter.com/cywZBDhOVR

— Tyler Lockett (@TDLockett12) March 5, 2025

A third-round 2015 NFL Draft pick out of Kansas State, Lockett has been remarkably durable in his career, playing 161 of a possible 163 regular season games for Seattle.

Lockett had four straight seasons of 1,000 receiving yards from 2019-22 for the Seahawks and caught a career-high 10 touchdowns in both 2018 and 2020, but his production has fallen off the past two years. In 2024, he made 49 catches for 600 yards, both numbers that were his lowest since 2017. Smith-Njigba, a 2023 first-round pick, rose above Lockett as one of Seattle’s top two options at wide receiver along with DK Metcalf this past season.

9 catches. 100 yards. 3 TDs.

Go celebrate your birthday @TDLockett12, you deserve it! 🎂@Seahawks | #Seahawks pic.twitter.com/xi3EN0KMt0

— NFL (@NFL) September 28, 2020

Lockett has won the Steve Largent Award in three of the past four seasons, an honor that has been given by the Seahawks annually since 1989 that is “voted on by players and given to the player or coach who best exemplifies the spirit, dedication and integrity of the Seahawks.” Lockett is one of three players to win the award three times, joining Mack Strong (five) and Russell Wilson (three).

The Tulsa, Okla., native is the son of former NFL wide receiver Kevin Lockett.

Salary cap squeeze

Prior to his release, Lockett carried a $30.895 million cap hit for 2025, per Spotrac – $12 million more than it was in 2024, and the fourth highest among any NFL receivers after Davante Adams, CeeDee Lamb and Metcalf. Lockett agreed to a restructured contract in March 2024 reported to be for $30 million over two years, and while the deal decreased his 2024 cap hit by over 50% from $27 million, it resulted in an even higher cap hit for 2025.

By releasing Lockett, the Seahawks are left with a $13.895 million dead cap hit, according to Spotrac, saving them $17 million under the salary cap.

The Seahawks have made a number of recent moves to free up space under the cap. They reportedly restructured Pro Bowl defensive lineman Leonard Williams’ contract last month, less than a year after signing him to a big three-year deal. And on Tuesday, Seattle cut four players who were regular contributors in 2024: outside linebacker Dre’Mont Jones, defensive tackle Roy Robertson-Harris, safety Rayshawn Jenkins and offensive lineman George Fant.

Per Over The Cap, Seattle was projected to be over $7 million above the NFL’s new salary cap of $279.2 million for 2025 prior to this week’s cuts. Tuesday’s moves saved Seattle roughly $23.5 million in cap space for 2025, per OverTheCap, getting them under the cap by about $16.4 million. With the Lockett cut, they now have over $33 million of cap space.

Seahawks general manager John Schneider has also acknowledged that the team is negotiating with quarterback Geno Smith’s representation on a potential contract extension, which would likely allow them to cut down his hefty $44.5 million cap hit for 2025.

The 27-year-old Metcalf is another potential extension candidate, as his $31.895 million cap hit is a full million higher than Lockett’s was set to be. Then again, he could instead be traded, which is apparently his preference as multiple NFL insiders reported Wednesday that he has requested a trade.

Reports: Seahawks star WR DK Metcalf requests trade

What’s next?

This doesn’t necessarily mean the end for Lockett in Seattle, but it does seem the most likely outcome, as Seattle Sports’ Brock Huard explained last month.

“You don’t want your third receiver to be 30-something years old. You want that guy ascending and growing and developing,” said Huard, a longtime FOX football analyst and former NFL quarterback. “And I think also when you’ve made what he’s made here and produced the way he’s produced here, it’s hard for those guys to just be on a league-minimum kind of deal.”

Lockett seemed to be at peace near the end of the season that he knew it may be his last run with the Seahawks.

“It went through my mind that maybe this could be my last Thursday practice or my last Friday practice with being part of the team,” Lockett said before Seattle’s season finale in January. “Those conversations are going to be had at the end of the season. To me, there’s no hostility. … There’s always love on my side of things.”

Every time the @Seahawks play the Rams on TNF we have to post the @TDLockett12 toe tap.

Those are the rules.

📺: #LARvsSEA — Thursday 8pm ET on NFLN/FOX/PRIME VIDEO

📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/QIk9aFjnjA

— NFL (@NFL) October 6, 2021