SEATTLE — It’s a move that the Seahawks, Tyler Lockett and 12s everywhere have acknowledged since the fall as a potential offseason salary cap casualty.

One that nobody wants to see, but everyone involved completely understands. Tyler Lockett is no longer a Seahawk.

The Seahawks announced Lockett was released Wednesday morning “after 10 memorable seasons in Seattle.”

A statement that even feels weird to type, after all, Lockett has only played in Seattle. A third-round selection in the 2015 NFL Draft, Lockett played ten full seasons in Seattle, endearing himself to 12s everywhere with his knack for finding the ball, forcing pass interference calls on whomever guarded him, and those patented toe-tap catches on the sidelines.

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It all adds up to 661 catches over those 10 seasons with 61 touchdowns more than 161 games played. But no stat or number can really sum up what Lockett means to Seattle.

A fan favorite in every way who gives back to the community, Lockett will always be remembered as a Seahawk.

That all said and meant to the fullest, the NFL is a business.

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The reality is that if Lockett were to remain a Seahawk he would garner a $30 million salary and count as $17 million against the salary cap in what evolved into a third wide receiver spot behind DK Metcalf and the emergence of Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Lockett talked about this seemingly inevitable reality in January.

“I appreciate everything that they’ve done for me because, again, last year I thought that may have been the last ride with being able to be here on a team, and so to me there’s no hostility. There’s no, like, nothing. There’s always love on my side of things and even though things may not have worked out with me on the field, I’ve won at so many other things in life that I really thank God for even putting me in a place to win like this,” Lockett said ahead of the season finale with the Rams.

Lockett repeated those same sentiments to me when we met up for a “dog walk” later in January.

“It’s always been a great place, and I’ve enjoyed it. I’ve been excited just to be here. That was my 10th year, so not many people get to play 10 years on the same team, so just to be able to be here almost a whole decade is kind of pretty crazy,” said Lockett.

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Lockett’s numbers were down in 2024, but that’s not a knock on his talent, rather the role he played with the emergence of Smith-Njigba. He sacrificed those numbers to be sure, a consummate teammate until his final game as a Seahawk.

“The stats may not line up, but that’s not my story to tell. I’ve done exactly what was being asked of me, and so if my stats don’t line up to what people may say I should have had in order to stay here, I can’t do anything about that. As a player, you want to have some type of say in it within your play to say I can still play this game. I can still make these plays. I can still do a lot of that type of stuff, but there’s one ball and not everybody can get the same amount of targets. So, again, for me I try to find the gratitude in this game and just the things to be appreciative of in this game because you don’t want this game to divide everything that you’ve ever achieved and everything that you’ve ever had within the relationships and the people because sometimes the game can tear you apart,” Lockett said at that same press conference in January.

In the end, Lockett will be the first to tell you that the NFL is a business. That it makes fiscal sense for the Seahawks to build on a 10-win season by freeing up that salary cap space to bolster positions in dire need of improvement, like the offensive line.

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But it doesn’t make it hurt any less that Tyler Lockett is no longer a Seahawk.

He’ll be an instant credit wherever he signs next.

And at the same time? He’ll forever be a Seahawk.