Mock drafts, especially nearly a year ahead of the season the mock refers to, can be quite silly. They can, however, imply what national pundits are thinking a certain team will do. Not that the Seattle Seahawks will do what pundits suggest, but there is a possibility that what Seattle is thinking matches that of the national conversation.
In the case of ESPN's recent 2025 NFL mock draft, and if the four-letter network is correct, then Seattle won't only be losing Tyler Lockett next offseason, but DK Metcalf as well. The reasoning is sound, to be fair, even if the projected reality is a bit of a stretch. Lockett is aging and Metcalf is getting really expensive.
Next offseason, Seattle is already over the salary cap. A release of a key player or three will get the team well under the cap, though. Does that mean the team is better? No, and certainly not immediately. But if the team is going to do a rebuild then the 2025 offseason might be rough. Much depends on the success or failure of the Seahawks this year.
ESPN seems to think the Seattle Seahawks move on from DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett next offseason
This might not matter to ESPN, however, as they have Seattle taking University of Arizona receiver Tetairoa McMillan at pick number 11 in the 2025 draft. That high of a pick means the Seahawks would be quite a bit worse in 2024 than in 2023. The New York Jets picked at the same slot this year (they swapped spots with the Minnesota Vikings from 10 to 11, but both teams had the same record) and the Jets were 7-10 - two games worse than the Seahawks.
The reason Seattle would choose McMillan - again, according to ESPN - is this: "Seattle has one of the NFL's best receiving corps, but it's also a unit poised for a breakup. Tyler Lockett - who is entering his age-32 season - and DK Metcalf both have potential outs in their contracts after this coming season. Yes, second-year receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba will factor into the Seahawks' future plans, but adding a true No. 1 receiver with size is a sneaky need."
If DK Metcalf isn't a true No. 1 receiver then ESPN is mad. They aren't completely, though, which means they are implying Metcalf leaves because releasing or trading him next offseason saves the team $22,000,471. Moving on from Lockett saves the Seahawks $17 million. Heck, while we are at it, why not release Geno Smith, too, and save another $25 million? That is all told $64 million in salary cap.
