ESPN analyst suggests Seahawks make ‘bold move’ by trading DK Metcalf, cutting Tyler Lockett

The Seattle Seahawks have an interesting offseason coming up with their wide receiver group. Jaxon Smith-Njigba had an outstanding second season and led the team in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns, but the mainstays on this team are DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.

ESPN contributor Aaron Schatz, best known for his DVOA metric (now at FTN Fantasy after Football Outsiders’ extinction), recently penned an article outlining bold moves every NFL team should make over the next couple of months. For the Seahawks, he believes the bold move is to shake up the receiver group by parting ways with Lockett... and Metcalf.

The Seahawks missed the playoffs despite a 10-7 record and the offense was a bit of a disappointment, ranking just 18th in the league in DVOA. Wide receivers DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett have two of the three highest cap numbers on the roster — quarterback Geno Smith has the other — and neither was as productive as Jaxon Smith-Njigba in 2024. Maybe it’s time to refresh the wide receiver room with some big changes.

Lockett, who will turn 33 early next season, had just 600 receiving yards and two touchdowns last season. He may be a Seahawks legend, but cutting him will save Seattle $13 million in cap space. The next step would be to trade Metcalf. His contract voids after the 2025 season, so see what teams like the Bills and Chargers would give for him right now. Then use those acquired draft picks to add a couple of young receivers who can flourish alongside Smith-Njigba.

Lockett as a cap casualty in itself wouldn’t be a bold move; it’d certainly be a sad one for sentimental reasons given his place in Seahawks history. Trading Metcalf is the surprise move that would indicate a massive rebuild of the Seahawks’ wide receiver group. With all due respect to Jake Bobo, Dareke Young, Cody White, and others who are on the roster or expected to remain on the roster as tendered free agents, the depth at this position gets real freaky by moving on from two of your top three options. Bobo has been a serviceable WR4, whereas Young has three career targets in three seasons and White has 10 targets in three seasons. This is where preseason hype and regular season reality are at a total disconnect.

Unless Metcalf is dealt for another credible and established receiver, the Seahawks would have to dip into the free agent market where the likes of Stefon Diggs, Chris Godwin, Keenan Allen, and Amari Cooper are set to be available. Tee Higgins is technically a free agent but if he signs his franchise tag or gets a long-term deal while tagged then just leave him out of the equation. That means the Seahawks would have to dip into the draft by voluntarily creating a much greater need at the position than moving on from just Lockett.

I am not against retooling this receiver group (read: parting ways with Lockett) because of the financial costs as well as the Seahawks’ existing lack of viable contested catch targets on the roster, but trading Metcalf would have to involve an extraordinary offer that’s too good to refuse. Nothing is stopping them from drafting a wide receiver or two (or a supreme pass-catching tight end); it’s just not reasonable to expect them to be impactful right away on a team with ambitions of contending.

Bold move to let go of Lockett AND Metcalf? Yes. Right move? Only if you think the Seahawks are in need of a heavier roster rebuild.