The Seattle Seahawks have made a concentrated effort to improve their wide receiving corps and alleviate some pressure on quarterback Russell Wilson in the passing game. The acquisition of All-Pro tight end Jimmy Graham from the New Orleans Saints is their splashiest move in that vein to date. But the team's decision to trade three draft picks for the right to nab Kansas State wide receiver Tyler Lockett in the third-round this year shouldn't be overlooked.
Rookie wide receiver Paul Richardson was just beginning to come out of his shell last year when he went down with a torn ACL in the playoffs. As a result, Lockett may be looked to as a homerun threat and return man from the get go.
So how's he doing so far with his transition to the NFL?
"Rookie receiver Tyler Lockett is still young and learning and has a ways to go," Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times wrote. "Lockett has looked really impressive for much of his short time with the Seahawks so far. He's quick and shifty, gets in and out of his cuts really crisply and just looks fundamentally sound, which is not surprising given that his dad and uncle both played in the NFL.
"But Lockett has made noticeably fewer plays in the last three or four practices, and after Tuesday's practice, [Doug] Baldwin offered some interesting insight into what Lockett is going through as a rookie: 'He's in the mode right now where he's thinking a little bit too much, but I think once he gets out there and lets the game take over he's going to ball out.'
"The Seahawks are still counting on Lockett in big ways as a return man this season, and he should get some time at receiver as well. But the biggest challenge for young players is consistency, and in that way Lockett is no different."
Lockett caught 106 balls for 1,515 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. The Seahawks are hoping he can bring that same type of production to Seattle in due time.
