Clayton: Seahawks’ deal with Tyler Lockett shows they’ve made a 3-year commitment to contend
Mar 31, 2021, 2:59 PM
Seahawks WR Tyler Lockett will be in Seattle through 2025 after a reported extension. (Getty)
(Getty)
Once again, the Seahawks stepped up big to show a strong commitment to their offense and their future.
Related: Report: Seahawks, Lockett agree to 4-year extension
They signed wide receiver Tyler Locket to what has been reported as a four-year, $69.2 million contract. Last week, they traded for guard Gabe Jackson and then signed him to a three-year, $22.5 million contract. Twice in the last week, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson sent out positive tweets about the moves. The Seahawks are indeed trying to give Wilson the talent on offense.
What’s interesting about these moves and others is that it looks as though the Seahawks are making a three-year commitment to stay a major Super Bowl contender. Prior to some of the more recent deals, the Seahawks had less than two dozen players under contract for 2022. Now they have more three-year deals in the works.
Lockett’s contract means that Lockett and DK Metcalf can be together as one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL for at least three more years. Metcalf has two years left on his contract, and if he and the Seahawks can’t come to a long-term deal in 2022, Seattle can still keep him in 2023 by using the franchise tag.
By that time, the league’s new television contracts will go into the revenue base, the salary cap will go up significantly, and Metcalf will be in position to ask for more than $20 million a year. He was selected to the Pro Bowl last year and is one of the most talented receivers in football.
Getting Jackson to sign a three-year extension means the guard position is set for the next three years, as Damien Lewis has three years remaining on his rookie contract.
The new contracts for Lockett and Jackson should free up enough cap room for the Seahawks to see if they can re-sign linebacker K.J. Wright. They are still looking for a veteran cornerback, as well, and they will have cap room to sign one. Quinton Dunbar is visiting Detroit and Arizona next week but the Seahawks would like him back.
The Seahawks aren’t done in free agency.
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