The Seattle Seahawks knew Tyler Lockett wasn’t going to become one of their premier wide receivers right away, but they have high hopes for the rookie out of Kansas State, first in the return game and then in scrimmage, although it might take some time.
Lockett was doing quite well earlier in the summer, but has been going through less and less plays in the last few days of training camp. It seems that he’s a bit overwhelmed by playing with the team’s best players next to him and against him, although that’s nothing new for rookies.
According to Doug Baldwin, one of the team’s top two receivers, 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.
Even without a lot of promised time as a receiver, the Seahawks expect big things from Lockett in the return game. He has four career kick return touchdowns in college and two (last season) on punt returns. The Seahawks invested heavily in him, trading four picks (third, fourth, fifth and sixth round) to get him with the 69th overall pick which originally belong to the Washington Redskins.
Preseason games give players like Lockett, down on the depth chart, an opportunity to show they deserve playing time. Jermaine Kearse made the most of his opportunity, and maybe Lockett is headed in the same direction if he can be a bit more consistent when catching the ball.
Lockett caught 249 passes for 3710 yards over four years in Manhattan under Bill Snyder, including two consecutive seasons of over 1200 yards in 2013 and 2014, with his senior year being a fantastic one, catching 106 passes for 1515 yards and 11 touchdowns, helping him make consensus All-American honor while leading the FBS in punt return average and the Big 12 in receiving yards.
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