Seahawks seem open to trading Tyler Lockett, but it’s unlikely he’d be on Chiefs radar
The Seahawks appear to be in rebuild mode as they have parted ways this week with a pair of stars from their Super Bowl XLVIII championship team.
Quarterback Russell Wilson was traded Tuesday to the Broncos, and the next day Seattle released linebacker Bobby Wagner. Combined, they had made 17 Pro Bowls.
The Seahawks reportedly also are open to parting ways with wide receiver Tyler Lockett, the former Kansas State star. With the Chiefs seemingly in need of a solid No. 2 receiver, this seems like it could be a perfect marriage.
At least that’s how many, many Chiefs fans see it. But there are three reasons why Lockett to the Chiefs seems to be a long shot.
1. Salary
Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap, a website dedicated to NFL salary cap and contract information, took a closer look at the Seahawks’ financial situation. That included a look at what would happen if Seattle traded certain players.
Fitzgerald included an analysis of what a team would have to pay Lockett if they traded for him.
This is part of what Fitzgerald wrote: “Lockett has $16 million due to him this year which is currently going to split as $3 million in salary and $13 million as an option bonus. Lockett’s option has to be exercised between the 1st and 5th day of the league year. If traded before that, the option becomes the responsibility of a new team and the dead money to trade him will be just $15.2 million. It is a loss in cap room but affordable especially after the release of Wagner.
“If they still want to keep their options open they can decline the option and elect to just pay $16 million in salary this year. That would spike his cap number but would let them continue to explore options to trade him all the way until the regular season begins and get the benefits of a June 1 trade. ... Lockett would cost a team just $25.7 million over the next two years which should make him a very attractive player in a trade.”
That sounds affordable, but the Chiefs likely will have cap issues. The NFLPA’s site shows they already are nearly $6 million over the cap after tagging left tackle Orlando Brown.
The Chiefs should free up some money for 2022 when they sign wide receiver Tyreek Hill to an extension.
Also helping the Chiefs: the salary cap will be $208.2 million per team next season, NFL.com reported, an increase of $25.7 million from last year’s cap of $182.5 million.
So this isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker, as the Chiefs may be able to fit in Lockett’s salary, but they also have other needs to consider. And that will cost money, too.
2. Lockett = Hill?
This is the biggest reason why the Chiefs would be disinclined to trade for Lockett: he would fill essentially the same role as Hill.
Consider this: Hill is 5 foot 10, 185 pounds, while Lockett is 5-10 and 182 pounds. Lockett, who at 29 is a year older than Hill, has averaged 13.5 yards per reception in his career, while Hill has averaged 13.8 yards.
Both are fast but smaller receivers. The Chiefs likely are looking for a bigger receiver at this point.
3. Cost of a trade
Lockett has 3,286 receiving yards and 28 touchdowns over the past three seasons. The Seahawks would be able to ask for a substantial draft-pick package and there would be more suitors than the Chiefs.
Would general manager Brett Veach give up a package of draft picks for a receiver who turns 30 in September, has a similar skill set as Hill and has a contract that could be difficult to fit in under the cap?
Anything is possible, of course, but it seems unlikely the Chiefs would be in the market for Lockett, even though K-State fans would love to see him in Kansas City.
