Well, Wednesday was certainly interesting news cycle for the Seattle Seahawks. On the same day the team announced the release of long time fan favorite Tyler Lockett, their bigger superstar receiver, DK Metcalf, officially requested a trade. What a fun way to distract from the crazy ass trade war the US has started with Canada! LOL!

Honestly, I get it if this news is upsetting to a lot of Seahawk fans. If you are upset by this, I get it. I do. For me, I am not too upset.

I loved having Tyler Lockett in Seattle over the years, and I am still a big fan and believer in DK Metcalf. I also believe that Jaxon Smith Njigba is growing into the primary receiver for the Seahawks, will need to be paid in a couple years, and if there is a time to trade a rare talent such as DK, now is probably a good time, if the right deal presents itself.

Sometimes, change is a really good thing. A year ago, I thought it was right to move on from Pete Carroll for Mike Macdonald.

I liked the hire of Macdonald a lot. He’s a Baltimore guy, and I felt under Carroll, Seattle drifted away too much from being the physical team it was a decade ago. I felt a bright young Baltimore guy like Macdonald, a Harbaugh guy, was needed, and Seattle’s defense showed significant enough signs of improvement in his first year coaching that validated the hire, in my mind. I’m excited about what this defense can be in year two.

I also think it is now the right move for this team to reallocate big funds away from skill positions and place these dollars into the offensive line. John Schneider spent two years building up the defensive line into respectability, and it is time to now do this for the offensive line, and I do not just want to see them add a couple rookies into it, and call it good.

I want two proven quality vets, and if that comes at the expense of a couple expensive receivers, I am good with it. We still have JSN, and John Schneider has a good eye for drafting receivers over the years. I will trust John to find us another good one.

In a nutshell, this is why I am not upset over with this news. Love Tyler, love DK, but I am ready for a change.. I think.

I am! I’m ready.

Here are my thoughts on both.

Tyler Lockett

In my opinion, I think Tyler Lockett ranks as the second best receiver in the history of the Seahawk franchise. What is fascinating about his story is that he shares the same birthdate with Steve Largent, who is the best receiver in franchise history, and what is even more wild than that is that both players grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. So, on top of all the resiliency and consistency, spectacular play, and production that Seattle got from Tyler, his history here is full of fun factoids.

I also think, for as good as Tyler was on the field, and he was really good, he was even a better person off of it. He was as good of a teammate as you would hope to find in the league. He was super supportive of Geno Smith when Seattle moved on from Russell Wilson, he was supportive of Mike Macdonald when he replaced the legendary Pete Carroll, and I think he has been a great role model for all of his younger teammates over the recent years of transition. As a person, he is simply as good as it can ever possibly get.

In many of these ways, I will probably miss Tyler Lockett more than I will ever miss DK Metcalf. I am holding onto a slim hope that maybe Tyler finds a cold enough market that he returns to Seattle at a reduced cost in a month’s time, but I am not putting a lot of stock into that.

For one, I do not believe Tyler is necessarily an ideal fit for their new scheme under coordinator Klint Kubiak which requires more physicality out of receivers as blockers on outside zone run plays, and also for them to be big YAC players with the football. We have all seen Tyler making routine business decisions in the open field after catches in recent years. That will not cut it in this scheme.

JSN, with his blend of crisp route running, soft hands, YAC production, and size to factor as a blocker, is an idea fit for a Shanahan/Kubiak offense. In a hypothetical scenario, if Seattle was able to entice Cooper Kupp to join the team up here to replace DK, he and JSN could cook up pretty well together for a few years, I suspect. These guys are perfect west coast offense receivers, but I digress.

For Tyler, I think the destination that would make a lot of sense for him would be Kansas City where they aren’t likely going to be able to afford DK, but Andy Reid would be able to make great use of his route running skills with Patrick Mahomes throwing the ball, and I think he would more than be willing to live with whatever business decisions he would make after the catch. When you have a superstar at quarterback, you just want to surround him with reliable hands and guys who get open. That is Tyler Lockett, even to this day, probably.

I just hate that on a day that Tyler Lockett should be celebrated for all he as done as a Seahawk and thanked, we have to share this news of his release with the news of DK wanting out. Apparently, the Seahawks hated this too because reports are that they are pissed DK’s front leaked this trade request to the media on the same day they released Tyler. Wednesday was supposed to be a celebration of Tyler Lockett and instead, DK and his agents crapped all over it. That sucks.

But onto DK Metcalf.

DK Metcalf

I like DK Metcalf. I take a lot of heat from friends who aren’t as keen on him as I am, and I have staunchly remained his defender. I understand how some of his antics rub people wrong, but I appreciate the rare talents he provides as a player, and I like guys who play with a bit of chip.

I think DK is a truly rare talent in this league, more so than maybe some other fans view him. His size and speed ratio forces defensive coaches to be aware of him at all times, and I think his presence on the field helps others around him. Tyler benefitted greatly from DK, and so has JSN, in my opinion.

I also think that what DK provides as a nasty run blocker would work very nicely in this new scheme. On top of being a threat to take the top of defenses off, Ken Walker runs to the outside with him blocking would be a lot of fun to watch with a commitment to this particular scheme.

But I am not super thrilled about paying top dollar to a player who maybe doesn’t fully want to be here any longer, and I see this as a unique advantage for Seattle to get pretty decent value out of him in a trade potentially. So, I am game to it.

For the record, I do not expect him to be back with the team. This is just my hunch, but I don’t think he has fully embraced the new coaches, and I don’t think that he has a deep connection with Geno Smith, and other players on the team outside of Tyler who is no longer here. I also don’t think he feels this organization is on it’s way to winning a title soon, and I think he would probably like to get paid big time either in a bigger glitzier market, or on a team that is closer to title contention. It is reported that multiple teams are interested, and when multiple teams show enough interest, usually a bidding war happens. Therefore, I think he’s most likely out-y. If I am wrong and he plays another season here, I will enjoy watching him again for a bit longer, but I don’t think I am. He will most likely be elsewhere in a few months, if not days or weeks.

The speculation for what Seattle could get for DK Metcalf is probably going to be all over the place. Last Friday, it was reported that the Green Bay Packers were willing to offer a high pick and one of their talented young receivers and they felt confident that they could put together a package to move the needle for Seattle, but Josina Anderson tweeted on Wednesday night that a team is willing to give at least a third round pick for him… hhhhhmmmm.

I am here to tell you right now, that if all John Schneider hears from teams are third round picks and change for DK Metcalf, he will hang up the phone, and a disgruntled DK Metcalf will be playing ball in Seattle 2025. Seattle holds all of the leverage in this, and we have seen John get very stubborn before with players such as Earl Thomas wanting out. Seattle can walk back DK Metcalf in 2025, and they can franchise tag him in 2026, and even 2027, if they so desire.

But I don’t think deals will low ball for him. Like I said, there will be a market.

The teams who reportedly appear most interested are Green Bay, Buffalo, The Chargers, Vegas, Kansas City, and New England. Here are some interesting, off the top of my head trade ideas for each of these teams that could be doable.

Green Bay sends Pick 23 and WR Dontayvion Wicks. Seattle get a late first round pick and a young receiver with good physicality who could serve as the Robin to JSN’s Batman for a couple seasons left on a rookie contract. The Pack won’t find a better receiver in this draft at 23, so they better pony it up.

Buffalo sends Pick 62 and TE Dalton Kincaid. Seattle showed interest in Kincaid a couple drafts ago, and Klint Kubiak loves to use multiple tight ends in his scheme. Kincaid has the talent to be George Kittle-esque and Seattle can use free agency to find a stop gap starter opposite of JSN and use the draft to address the position again. A late second round pick added gets the deal done.

The LA Chargers send Pick 22 and WR Quentin Johnston. Johnston has been a bit of a disappointment of a first round pick, and they have Ladd McConkey to pair with DK. Johnston’s trade value wouldn’t be much if they go after DK, but he could have value in Seattle for a while as a second receiver to JSN in a run centric Shanahan scheme.

Vegas sends picks 37 and 73 and TE Michael Mayer to Seattle for DK Metcalf and Geno Smith. Okay, hang with me for a moment on this one. Pete Carroll loves both of these players, and I think Tom Brady probably has some appreciation for Geno Smith as well seeing the value of DK Metcalf. Vegas has two talented young tight ends on their roster and they have given Mayer an opportunity to seek out a trade. I don’t think the trade market would be much for Geno Smith, but Vegas could be the one team that would see more value in him, and maybe Vegas bites on this package. Seattle could pursue Sam Darnold in free agency and be prepared to pivot to Jimmy Garoppolo, if needed, and both veterans know the Kubiak offense. Seattle can also look to the draft. It is an interesting thought, if not wholly likely.

Kansas City sends picks 31 and 95. It is reported that Seattle’s asking price is a first and a third round pick and KC is willing to cough it up to get the deal done.

New England sends Pick 69 and DE Keion White. Seattle gets a high third round pick and a talented defensive lineman with a length, strength, and athleticism to rush from the edge and inside. This is how Seattle makes a good defensive line better, and he has two years remaining on his rookie contract before he needs to get paid. The draft pick isn’t exciting but White is, and this is the trade scenario out of this bunch would most excite me.

Anyhoo, these are just some spitball ideas for DK trades. I wouldn’t be shocked if more teams look to get into this mix. Again, this a bad free agent year for receivers and it isn’t a great class for them either. Therefore, I think it all lines up for a DK trade. It might takes several weeks, though, and it might even all the way up to draft night. We shall see.

Final Thoughts

I think it majorly blows that DK stole Wednesday away from Tyler Lockett. The move of leaking this trade request out there on that day was the ultimate impulsive younger brother thing to do to the do right thing older brother of Tyler Lockett. This is my feelings on it in a nutshell, and in a way it is fitting. Tyler was the epitome of solid in Seattle, and, at times, DK acted like a spoiled brat in games.

DK will forever be known as that dynamic Seattle athlete who casual fans will know because of his freakish size and physical traits, and yet, at the same time, he just never really fully lived up to all the hype. Some will blame the Seahawk organization for that, and others will the player. For me, I think blames lays both ways a bit. Pete Carroll could have down more to allow his coaches to be more creative with him, and DK could have done more to be a precision route runner and better team player, as well.

In a dating life analogy, DK, to me, comes across like a big strapping dude who’s physical dynamics sweep you off your feet, and you are like Madeline Kahn laying in after glow in the final act of Young Frankenstein, singing away like a lunatic. He’s a dude you get swept up with for a while, but then overtime, the novelty wears off when he doesn’t do enough of the little things right. Then you find yourself thinking about the short lawyer with a bald patch on the back of his head but the Summer house in the San Juans.

Tyler Lockett, on the other hand, that is the dude who maybe doesn’t immediately blow you away, but when you see how special he is, you fall deeply in love with, you take him to the alter, and you never let him go.. until you have to because of age and durability and everything else around football.. but really, you don’t let that guy go.

I will miss Tyler Lockett. I will miss his clutch moments in games, incredible sideline catches, and the sneaky ways he gets wide open deep down field on play action plays, and his underrated ability to catch passes in contested coverages.

Tyler Lockett was an incredibly talented NFL receiver in Seattle. Outsiders never saw it enough with him, but Seahawk fans did. He will always be universally loved here.

I don’t know how much more he has left in the tank as a player. He looked slower in 2024 than I have seen him, and I think each year, injuries have kinda been more of an issue for him. I don’t suspect he will get a big contract somewhere else, but I would like to see him end up on a team like Kansas City where I think a head coach like Andy Reid would see value in him, and he gets a shot at a ring. That’s my hope for him.

As for DK, if you want him Green Bay, Vegas, Buffalo, or KC, you better come with an offer that means it.

Go Hawks.