Despite winning 10 games last season, the Seattle Seahawks have drastically altered their roster over the past three weeks. Not only did they trade quarterback Geno Smith and wide receiver DK Metcalf, the team also released franchise legend Tyler Lockett after 10 seasons in Seattle.
Smith has reunited with Pete Carroll in Las Vegas and Metcalf was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers. While Lockett has yet to find a new NFL home in free agency. It sounds like one NFC East team could be targeting the former Seahawks Pro Bowl wideout.
According to a report from ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the New England Patriots have Lockett "on their radar."
The Seahawks have brought in a handful of replacements, including quarterback Sam Darnold and wide receiver Cooper Kupp. While some have held out hope that Lockett will return to Seattle, he's likely to get more money elsewhere in free agency.
The Patriots are looking to give young quarterback Drake Maye a proven target. Since the team has $80 million in cap space available, New England makes sense as a landing spot for Lockett. Another potential option for the former Seahawks star is the Las Vegas Raiders.
Carroll and Smith are familiar with Lockett and since the team has over $50 million in cap space, it's arguably the best fit for the former third-round pick. Lockett, 32, was less involved in the offense last season due to the emergence of Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
While he finished the year with just 600 receiving yards and two touchdowns, Lockett has been ultra-productive for most of the last decade. Lockett topped 1,000 receiving yards in four consecutive years (2019-2022) and has never finished with less than 550 yards in a season.
Whoever ends up signing Lockett will be getting a savvy veteran with something to prove. As for the Seahawks, most NFL analysts expect the team to add a wide receiver in the 2025 NFL draft.
