A blockbuster transaction that occurs before to the 2024 NFL draft could be advantageous for the Seattle Seahawks.
The Seahawks might profit from offloading wide receiver Tyler Lockett, their 2024 first-round pick (16th overall), a 2024 fourth-round pick, and a 2025 second-round pick to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for the seventh overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, as Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox suggests in this “hypothetical” trade.
Knox contends that by selecting higher in the draft, the Seahawks may be able to select their franchise quarterback.
Writer Knox states, “We’d love to see Seattle get aggressive in the draft and move up for a quarterback.” “LSU’s Jayden Daniels could be an option for the Seahawks, but neither Caleb Williams nor Drake Maye are likely to be available. On the Bleacher Report Scouting Department big board, Daniels is placed 24th, so Seattle would probably need to move up to obtain him. In order for the Seahawks to pass the Falcons at No. 8, they would need to trade with the Tennessee Titans.
Why Seattle Should Select Higher in the NFL Draft of 2024
Seattle is frequently slated to choose their franchise quarterback with the No. 16 pick in mock drafts. But the two best quarterbacks in the draft, Caleb Williams and Drake Maye, will be chosen in the first few choices; Jayden Daniels of LSU might be selected at No. 16 instead. The best quarterback available to the Seahawks at No. 16 might be someone in the second round, like J.J. McCarthy of Michigan.
The Seahawks ought to be encouraged to choose higher in the draft if they want a quarterback who can actually make an impact.
Lockett is obviously declining even though he is still a solid No. 2 option for Seattle. During the 2024 season, Lockett will age 32, and his numbers are already starting to drop. Lockett recorded his lowest number of receiving yards and touchdowns since the 2017 campaign with 79 receptions for 894 receiving yards and five scores.
With two years left on his four-year, $69 million contract, Lockett will receive roughly $32 million in basic money. Nonetheless, Lockett can be released by the Seahawks this offseason for a dead cap charge of just under $19.8 million, freeing almost $8 million in cap space.
As Knox points out, both sides would get what they want, with the Titans obtaining significant draft money and an experienced wide receiver to help Will Levis develop, and Seattle in a great position to choose their future franchise quarterback.
According to Knox, “this hypothetical trade would give Tennessee additional draft capital and a proven receiver for second-year quarterback Will Levis, while netting the Seahawks their QB of the future.”
The Reasons the Seahawks Need a New Franchise QB
In addition, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, a 2023 first-round pick by the Seahawks, is already in the fold and will start opposite DK Metcalf as a wide receiver. Despite playing in the No. 3 position, the 21-year-old receiver had a fantastic debut campaign, hauling in 63 passes for 628 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
Even though Geno Smith has two more years left on his contract, he will soon turn 34 and has probably reached his peak. Smith had a breakthrough season in 2022 that earned him a spot in the Pro Bowl and Comeback Player of the Year. However, in 2023, he returned to ordinary levels and finished in the middle of the pack in key passing metrics including touchdowns, passing yards, and passer rating.
