Things need to improve for the Seattle Seahawks after a second successive season without playoff football. The team showed some positive signs in Mike Macdonald’s first season as head coach, most notably Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who enjoyed a significant breakout in his second NFL season.
But with Seattle narrowly missing out on the playoffs due only to their strength of schedule, Macdonald will feel that his team isn’t too far away from competing. And according to a recent PFSN article, trading for Evan Engram could get them over the hump in 2025.
Seahawks to Release Tyler Lockett, Metcalf Requests Trade
Before Seattle can think about adding to their pass-catching weapons, they’ll need to address those already in the building.
The Seahawks got started by announcing on Wednesday, March 5th, that veteran receiver Tyler Lockett was to be released after 10 seasons with the team. After being drafted by Seattle in 2015, Lockett amassed 168 receptions for 9,104 yards and 63 touchdowns, with an additional rushing touchdown.
Not long after news emerged of Lockett’s departure, it was reported by NFL insider Adam Schefter that the team’s other veteran receiver, D.K. Metcalf, had requested a trade away from Seattle.
DK Metcalf has recorded 900-plus receiving yards in every season since entering the league in 2019.
Seattle parted ways with Tyler Lockett earlier today after 10 seasons, and now faces a trade request from Metcalf. https://t.co/wgVVnkspJn
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 5, 2025
Like Lockett, Metcalf has spent his entire NFL career to date in Seattle. Drafted 64th overall in the 2019 NFL Draft, Metcalf already ranks sixth in all-time receiving yards for Seattle, four places behind Lockett. Averaging over 1,000 receiving yards per season throughout his career, Metcalf would be a big miss for Macdonald moving forward.
Seahawks Should Trade For ‘Reliable’ Evan Engram
A suggestion that makes even more sense since being written, is that the Seahawks should make a move to acquire tight end Evan Engram from the Jacksonville Jaguars. A dynamic receiving tight-end with 25 career touchdowns, Engram would give Geno Smith a big-bodied target through the middle of the field.
“The Seahawks are technically over the cap but will get compliant by moving on from Tyler Lockett and saving $17 million. While Seattle won’t have much room to add, one potential target could be Jaguars tight end Evan Engram.
Seattle tight ends combined to rank 23rd in yards per reception (9.4) and 18th in receiving yards (810) in 2024. Engram has been a reliable underneath weapon in Jacksonville and ranks second in receptions per game among TEs since joining the Jaguars in 2022 (behind only Travis Kelce).
Tight ends were a weapon for Smith over his first two seasons in Seattle. From 2022-23, he ranked fourth in the league with 8.5 yards per attempt throwing to TEs. That dipped to 7.5 yards per attempt in 2024, which ranked 14th.
Engram has one year remaining on his contract, albeit with a $14.75 million base salary. That would likely need to be negotiated down to facilitate a trade. Still, it would also likely reduce the compensation return to a Day 3 pick swap (which would be helpful for a Seahawks team currently missing picks in the fourth and fifth rounds).”
With Lockett gone and Metcalf looking likely to follow, Jaxon Smith-Njigba would be the only starting-caliber receiver on the Seahawks roster. Adding a natural pass catcher like Engram would be a great way to start filling the void left by the team’s two outgoing icons.