Projecting The Seattle Seahawks’ 2015 Draft Class As Rookies

Jan 2, 2015; San Antonio, TX, USA; Kansas State Wildcats wide receiver

(16) runs after a catch during the second half of the 2015 Alamo Bowl against the UCLA Bruins at Alamodome. The Bruins won 40-35. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Seattle Seahawks Rookie Projections: Tyler Lockett

Tyler Lockett will be the punt returner in 2015 for the Seahawks, and possibly the kick returner as well. However, his role in the offense is still very much undetermined. As I talked about in my Seahawks Draft Grades article, I think Lockett is more likely to be the next Randall Cobb or T.Y. Hilton than the next Tavon Austin. He is much more than just a speedster.

He can run every route in the NFL playbook, and is extremely deceptive in-and-out of his breaks. He creates space consistently, something that no other receiver on the Seahawks roster has proven capable of doing so far. Doug Baldwin is currently Seattle’s best separator, but I think Lockett runs even better routes than him.

Lockett is also has smooth hands and doesn’t break stride when running through the catch. As soon as the ball hits his hands he is moving up the field. And boy is he good once he has the ball in his hands. Darrell Bevell loves to run as many bubble screens as possible, sometimes too much actually. But Lockett has Golden Tate-like ability in the screen game. Expect a few called his way per game. Although, hopefully Bevell is able to get Lockett’s speed down the field, something he couldn’t figure out how to do with Percy Headaches.

Size is litterally the only fault I can find with Lockett. It might take him a few months to adjust to the strength of most NFL cornerbacks, but I think he is an NFL-ready receiver.

Projection:

• WR: 400 snaps, 30 receptions, 300 yards and one TD
• PR: 35 returns, 11 yards per return, one TD
• KR: 25 returns, 27.5 yards per return

Next: Terry Poole 2015 Projections