The recent trading of QB Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders, the fulfillment of WR DK Metcalf’s trade request (he was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers), and the release of Seahawks veteran WR Tyler Lockett, has sent many fans up in arms, as the Seahawks pursue a path of change in the 2025 offseason.

Lockett, a fan favorite, was released from the Seahawks on Wednesday, March 5, as a salary cap casualty – thus bringing an end to a decade of one of the best receiver careers in team history. Although this may be a shock to some fans, this move was not one that was unknown to Lockett.

Lockett hinted at the fact that he wasn’t sure where his career was going after the last game of the 2024-25 season and he was quite noticeably reflective about the years he has dedicated himself to the Seahawks, saying, “Ten years with the same team. I think the only people that’s done it since I’ve been able to play on this team were K.J., Bobby, and Russ,” referring to Wright, Wagner, and Wilson.

He also talked about the city after the final game, saying, “I think the city is amazing. I’ll always view Seattle as a college town, and maybe this isn’t the end, maybe it is the end, but I always will be a Seahawk through and through.”

Lockett first emerged as one of the best returners for the Seahawks as a rookie. He earned first-team All-Pro, and Pro-Bowl honors in his role as a returner, then moved on to be one of the best receivers in team history, having four straight seasons with 1,000+ receiving yards in the years 2019-2022. This feat has only been accomplished by Hall of Famer Steve Largent and Lockett.

Lockett is leaving Seattle in the record books. He’s ranked second to Steve Largent, scoring 61 receiving touchdowns, 661 receptions, 8,594 receiving yards, and holding the franchise single-season record for receptions with 100, a mark that was tied by Jaxon Smith-Njigba last season.

Lockett was voted three times as the winner of the prestigious Steve Largent Award by his teammates, and he is thoroughly loved by fans, teammates, and coaches. When asked about him, recently-traded QB Geno Smith said:

“Man, I can go on all day. He means so much to me. Just to see an NFL player of his caliber to have the humble demeanor that he has and the selflessness that he has and just – the consistency that he’s shown and the leadership that he’s given to DK, Jaxon, and all those guys in that room, it doesn’t go unnoticed. He’s one of my best friends. He’s a guy that I played against in college, so I knew exactly what he could do all along. Just being around him, his family, his wife – he’s soon to be a dad – he’s a special guy, a special person, and a special player.”

As of Friday, March 7, it was announced that Geno Smith, Seahawks’ starting quarterback for the past three seasons, will be traded to the Las Vegas Raiders and reunited with former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll. 

Smith was traded because he requested a contract extension which would have paid him at least $45 million per year, but the Seahawks did not want to commit more than $35 million per season to him.

To see a team trade their starting QB right before the start of free agency isn’t unheard of, but it is quite rare. Unless a team already has someone in mind to replace him, it is a bit of a risky move. The Seahawks did something similar when they traded Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos in 2022, but that move had less of a risk factor as Smith was already in Seattle to take over for Wilson.

However, it was not obvious this time around if there was a replacement for the Seahawks’ starting QB. The Seahawks could have turned their attention to Sam Howell, who served as Smith’s backup last season and was the only QB on the roster, but it was more likely that the team would try to find a new starting QB during free agency. Which they did – signing Sam Darnold from the Minnesota Vikings.

Darnold is coming to the Seahawks off of the best season of his career – having earned Pro-Bowl honors after throwing for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions while helping lead the Vikings to a 14-3 record.

Smith has dedicated three seasons to the Seahawks as their starter, proving his decade of experience, Smith quickly posted a career-best 69.8 completion percentage, 4,282 yards and a 30-11 touchdown-interception ratio, which is just the tip of the iceberg concerning Smith’s talent.

While the Seahawks may no longer have Smith on their roster, the trade is hopeful news for the Raiders. The Raiders have had what one could call a “revolving door” of QBs after they decided to move on from Derek Carr and they are seeking the type of guidance and stability that Smith would bring to the team. 

DK Metcalf has been traded as well, but because he requested it. Metcalf has signed a four-year, $132 million extension to the Pittsburgh Steelers from the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for a 2025 second-round draft pick. 

Metcalf had 66 receptions for 992 yards, five touchdowns this previous season (meaning he would have led the Steelers in catches and yards). He also boasts three 1,000-yards seasons, the physicality to excel and survive in the strenuous AFC North, and the speed to break games wide open.

Although there have been some big name departures from the roster, not all of the Hawks’ offseason moves have been purging players, some of their biggest moves this offseason have been re-signing their own players.

The most notorious being the resigning of linebacker Ernest Jones. Jones was traded to the Seahawks in the middle of last season from the Tennessee Titans in the final year of his contract. One of the biggest priorities this offseason was to resign the middle linebacker that played a key role in the defense’s drastic midseason turnaround. Jones re-signed with the Seahawks on a three-year, $33 million deal.

The Seahawks also have re-signed DT Jarran Reed, who started all 16 games played in 2023 and tallied a career-high 54 tackles (27 solo). Reed blocked his first-career field goal vs. the L.A. Rams (Sept. 10, 2023) and led the team with two sacks, three quarterback hits, and tied a career-high with eight tackles vs. Carolina (Sept. 24, 2023).

In addition, the Seahawks re-signed CB Josh Jobe. Jobe recorded 16 tackles (14 solo) and four passes defensed in 17 games. Jobe was an undrafted free agent who spent his first two years with Philadelphia. He started the season on the Seahawks’ practice squad, but was elevated to the 54-man roster in week 7 because of injuries. Jobe seized his opportunity and played well enough to earn a starting role – even starting once other players returned from injuries. Jobe started six of the Seahawks’ final 10 games.

The Seahawks have practically had their offense decimated, and fans are not pleased to say the least, considering last year’s team was competitive. The Seahawks finished the ’24-’25 season accumulating 10 wins, but fell just short of making the playoffs. 

Although there have been many changes within the team, fans continue to have hope that the roster changes will improve their standings for the coming 2025 season. And maybe be just what the team needs to get over the hump and into the playoffs, giving them a shot at raising the Lombardi trophy at the end of the ’25-’26 season.