Seattle Seahawks

Seahawks reaping dividends of bold draft-day trade for Lockett

Published Jan. 5, 2016 1:24 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Seattle Seahawks made a bold move in the 2015 draft, moving up 26 spots in the third round to select Tyler Lockett of Kansas State.

The price tag - four draft picks to the Washington Redskins - seemed unusually steep for a player expected to contribute mainly on special teams and as a backup wide receiver. In retrospect, Lockett's performance in his first year has turned it into a wise investment for the Seahawks.

Wilson: "I think he's rookie of the year. Anytime he gets the ball he could score." ? @TDLockett12 #NFLROY
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) January 4, 2016

“I think he’s rookie of the year,” Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson said of Lockett following Sunday's win at Arizona. “There are some other guys, but you watch Tyler and the different things that he can do. The explosiveness in the passing game. He’s great on third down. He made some big-time, red-zone catches. ... The punt returns. The kick returns.

“You think about what a special player he is.”

Total yards in 1st half: Tyler Lockett punt returns, 139, Cardinals' entire offense 110. #Seahawks
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) January 3, 2016

Lockett provided a constant reminder of Wilson's assessment with a dazzling performance in the regular-season finale. He set a franchise record in the first half alone with 139 yards on punt returns as Seattle bolted to a 24-point lead en route to a 36-6 romp.

“He just looked unstoppable,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. “It was a tremendous effort by our guys and I’m really proud. It really kind of led to the fire of the game. We kept getting field position and taking advantage of it.”

Lockett also has developed into an emerging weapon in the passing attack, ranking second on the team with 51 catches. His 36-yard reception on Sunday set up the first of three scoring passes by Wilson in under a span of four minutes in the second quarter.

The 5-foot-8, 182-pound speedster followed that up with punt returns of 66 and 42 yards, leading to two more TD passes and a 30-6 cushion. The huge performance enabled Lockett to set a franchise rookie record with 1,915 all-purpose yards.

“Any time you can shift the field the way he does, it’s tough on a defense,” Wilson said. “Any time he has the ball in his hands he may score. That’s a good feeling."