Tyler Lockett

Lockett was supposed to take a huge step back last year without Russell Wilson but instead made it five seasons in a row with at least 1,000 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns, helping QB Geno Smith earn Comeback Player of the Year honors. The 30-year-old drew 24 fewer targets than running mate DK Metcalf while playing one fewer game, yet had nearly the same number of receiving yards and three more TDs. While it seems inevitable that Metcalf eventually becomes a true No. 1 rather than a co-No. 1, it failed to materialize the last two seasons when the younger Seattle wideout was drafted rounds ahead of the elder statesmen in fantasy leagues. It becomes more and more likely with each passing year, perhaps, but there were no real signs of decline from Lockett in 2022 and the addition of first-round pick Jaxon Smith-Njigba (who figures to play the slot) won't automatically hurt him. Lockett has split time between the perimeter and slot throughout his career, and it's been a mixed bag in terms of where his production is better. Last year, Lockett had 1.66 yards per route in the slot and 2.14 otherwise, getting 42 percent of his routes and 45 percent of his targets inside but accumulating only two of his nine TDs and 35 percent of his yardage there.

Uncharted waters lie ahead for Lockett, whose next TD catch will be his first in the NFL without Russell Wilson on the other end. For all of Seattle's issues last year, Wilson and Lockett maintained their strong chemistry as the wideout recorded a fourth consecutive season in the range of 1,000-1,200 total yards and 8-10 TDs. In fact, he even had a career high for receiving yards, with his aDOT skyrocketing from 9.7 in 2020 to 14.6 in 2021. Lockett's YPT rose from 8.0 to 11.0, the second highest of his career, despite his catch rate dropping by 7.6 percentage points. He spent more time lined up outside under new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, who will get another shot despite the disappointment of last year. The problem now, apart from an O-line that struggles in pass protection, is that the Seahawks don't have a QB who can get the most out of Lockett, DK Metcalf and TE Noah Fant. The team grabbed Fant and QB Drew Lock in the Wilson trade, in addition to a boatload of draft picks, but there's still an uncomfortable amount of short-term uncertainty for a wideout who turns 30 in late September.

Lockett had one of the quieter 100-catch seasons in recent memory last year. Once the league’s most efficient per-play receiver, Lockett has been overshadowed by teammate DK Metcalf, whose freakish athleticism and playmaking ability have relegated Lockett to more of a possession role. As a result, Lockett — who had six catches for 40-plus yards on only 70 targets in 2018 — managed only two 40-yard catches on 132 targets last year, part of a three-year decline in his yards per catch and yards per target. The other issue with Lockett’s 2020 season was that so much of it came during two games, a 13-9-110-3 outburst against the Cowboys in Week 3 and a 20-15-200-3 explosion against the Cardinals in Week 7. There’s nothing wrong with having monster games, of course, but Lockett scored in only three other games and did not reach 100 yards the rest of the year. At 5-10, 182, Lockett is small, but he’s fast (4.40 40) and exceptionally quick. While he didn’t see a lot of downfield looks, he did get more than his share in the red zone — nine targets from inside the 10 (T-11th) and seven from inside the five (T-7th) — and scored 10 times. So long as Russell Wilson remains a Seahawk, the 28-year-old Lockett is a good bet for north of 100 targets and production to follow suit. But with Metcalf around, Lockett’s ceiling is probably capped.

Coming off a per-play season for the ages (13.8 YPT), Lockett predictably regressed in 2019, but he was still efficient - 12.9 YPC, 9.6 YPT. He also saw a ton of red-zone work (23 targets, T-2nd), explaining in large part how he amassed eight touchdowns. It was a huge increase from 2018 (six red-zone targets), thanks to the departure of long-time top wideout Doug Baldwin. At 5-10, 182, Lockett is small but fast (4.40 40) and uncannily quick. He's dangerous in open space and down the field, and Russell Wilson often looks to him when plays break down and Wilson is scrambling around in the pocket. The downside for Lockett is three-fold: first, given his slight frame, it would be surprising if he maintained his red-zone volume; second, the Seahawks are perennially in the bottom third of the league in pass attempts; and third, second-year man DK Metcalf emerged down the stretch and looks like a future star and downfield playmaker. The Seahawks also added Greg Olsen this offseason, so while Lockett will still have a prominent role, his target ceiling is modest.

Lockett quietly had a season for the ages. Lest you think we're exaggerating, consider he averaged 13.8 YPT, more than half a yard better than the next highest single-season, per-target output (Jordy Nelson, 2011) since 1992 when they started keeping track. Only six 70-target receivers have even cracked 12.0 YPT over that span, and Lockett was approaching 14. It helps when of the 70 targets directed your way, you drop none, catch 57 (81.4%) and average 16.9 YPC. Lockett had six plays of 40-plus yards (T-4th) and 10 TDs (T-6th) on the 56th-most targets. Moreover, Russell Wilson had a perfect passer rating (158.3) when targeting Lockett. A season does not get more efficient. At 5-10, 182, Lockett is small, fast (4.40 40) and incredibly dangerous in open space - he made the Pro Bowl as a kick returner his rookie season. Lockett has made big plays throughout his career despite modest opportunities, and Wilson's ability to scramble and buy time is a big part of that. Lockett rarely sees red-zone work - he's too small, and the Seahawks prefer to run from in close in any event (Wilson was 18th in red-zone attempts despite playing all 16 games). Lockett's amazing efficiency is not sustainable by Randy Moss, Jerry Rice or anyone else, so a drop back to his usual 9-10 YPT and modest TD numbers is a reasonable expectation. The question is whether the team, seeing his incredible success, will give him more targets. The Seahawks' other top option, Doug Baldwin, retired, freeing up more looks, but the team drafted two athletic rookies, DK Metcalf (62nd overall) and Gary Jennings (120th), and either or both could contribute right away. Bottom line, even without Baldwin and as great as Lockett was last year, we can't project heavy volume for him in Brian Schottenheimer's run-first offense.

Lockett had a pedestrian season as the team's No. 3 receiver last year - only 12.3 YPC and 7.8 YPT, both marks down from his career norms. At 5-10, 182, and with 4.40 speed, Lockett is fast, quick and dangerous in open space, so much so he's made the Pro Bowl twice as a kick returner. Despite seeing only 71 targets, Lockett had three catches of 40-plus yards last season, but also disappeared for long stretches and had virtually no role near the goal line. With Paul Richardson and Jimmy Graham gone, Lockett could inherit a bigger role, and his speed and quickness make him a candidate for big plays when Russell Wilson buys time with his legs. Doug Baldwin is still the team's clear No. 1, but Lockett is the ostensible No. 2 at press time, even after the signings of Brandon Marshall and Jaron Brown.

After a promise-filled rookie season, Lockett saw less action in Year 2 while playing through a torn PCL. He was still able to log 15 games and managed 14.6 YPC and 9.0 YPT while at less than full health before breaking his leg in Week 16. At 5-10, 182, and running a 4.40 40, Lockett is in the DeSean Jackson mold -- small, slight, fast and lightning quick. Lockett benefits from Russell Wilson's ability to scramble to buy time and make big plays out of broken ones, but Wilson too was hobbled for much of last year. Lockett is expected to be brought back slowly as his leg heals, but he should be ready at some point during training camp. He's still the team's No. 2 receiver behind Doug Baldwin, but tight end Jimmy Graham will see his share of targets. There's upside here -- especially in non-PPR formats -- once Lockett returns to full health.

Seattle's second-round pick last year, Lockett proved to be a dynamic playmaker with six touchdowns on only 69 targets and two touchdowns in the return game (one kick, one punt), to boot. Lockett averaged 9.6 YPT and had two catches of 40 or more yards on modest volume. He also had 75 yards and a score in Seattle's playoff loss to the Panthers. At 5-10, 182, Lockett's not a red-zone target (only four in that area all year), but he ran a 4.40 40, is quick and shifty in the open field and is hard to stay with when Russell Wilson buys time scrambling. With Jermaine Kearse re-signing in Seattle, Doug Baldwin still around and Jimmy Graham possibly returning to action, Lockett's unlikely to see more than modest workload growth, but with Wilson under center, he will make the most of his chances.

The Seahawks traded up 26 spots in the third round to draft Lockett, a somewhat big investment for a special teams player. Coach Pete Carroll made clear that Lockett won't be used much, if at all, in the offense (and at 5-foot-10, 182 pounds, that's probably wise, at least initially). However, the Seahawks were desperate for a returner after finishing 25th in punt return average last year and 30th on kickoff returns, and Lockett was easily the best available option to fill that void in the draft. If he ends up usable in the slot, all the better.