There was a need for a veteran wide receiver for the Las Vegas Raiders. Inking Tyler Lockett — a 33-year-old 11-year vet — certainly fits that bill.
But one can’t escape that head coach Pete Carroll seems hellbent on a getting the band back together the desert, doesn’t he?
The Silver & Black added Lockett officially this past Monday after the receiver asked for his release from the Tennessee Titans last week. In a corresponding move, the Raiders waived wide receiver Justin Shorter.
Lockett joined the Titans a one-year, $4 million contract in free agency after spending 10 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, who drafted him out of Kansas State in the third round (69th overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft. Thus, Carroll is well aware of what the 5-foot-10, 182-pound wideout brings to the table.
Lockett’s arrival brings Las Vegas’ wide receiver room to six. Lockett is the elder statesmen of the group followed by Alex Bachman who is 29. Then comes Jakobi Meyers (28) and a trio of receivers under 25: Tre Tucker (24) and rookies Jack Bech (22) and Dont’e Thornton Jr. (22).
Let’s explore the pros and cons of Lockett’s addition:
The Pros
Familiar face. Carroll isn’t the only person in the Raiders’ building who knows Lockett. Quarterback Geno Smith spent six seasons (2019-24) with the Seahawks and knows well what the veteran wide receiver is capable off. The duo of Smith and Lockett connected for 220 passes, 2,613 yards, and 16 touchdowns during their respective tenures in Seattle. Of those six seasons, Carroll was the head honcho for five of them.
There’s built-in trust that Smith has with Lockett and that’ll help the quarterback who is tied for the league lead in interceptions thrown at 10. Lockett will need to lock into the Chip Kelly offense in Las Vegas but the wide receivers arrival can help not only Smith but Kelly, too.
Timing target. Lockett’s route running ability can help improve the timing of the Raiders offense that’s been disrupted frequently. The veteran’s body control and ability to get in and out of breaks with precision should give Smith an option to go to quickly when things go awry. While he may not be as fast as that 4.40 40-yard dash time he posted at the 2015 NFL Combine, Lockett showcased the technique, short area quickness, and football intelligence to make himself available to the quarterback. Of Lockett’s career 671 receptions, 402 have gone for first downs.
Trade facilitation. Meyers has made it no secret he demanded a trade. He originally sought a new deal to remain a Raider beyond this season but things have gone quiet on both fronts. Perhaps the addition of Lockett — namely how the wide receiver performs — facilitates the move from Meyers? Meyers is the second-most productive pass catcher for Las Vegas hauling in 29 passes for 329 yards with no touchdowns in the six games he’s started so far. The NFL trade deadline is November 4.
The Cons
Age and Production. At age 33, Lockett is two years younger than Smith. And his production dipped since the 2022 season (84 receptions for 1,033 yards and nine touchdowns). In his final two seasons as a Seahawk, Lockett caught 79 passes for 894 yards and five touchdowns in 2023 and then 49 passes for 600 yards and two scores in 2024. With the Titans, Lockett hauled in 10 passes for 70 yards and zero scores, the highest output being four catches for 37 yards in a Week 3 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Through the first seven games in Tennessee, he logged 190 snaps. In comparison, Tucker and Meyers have notched 381 and 352 snaps, respectively. Just how much more juice Lockett has is of chief concern. Does he still have the crisp route running, speed, and football IQ to deliver in Las Vegas?
Related
Taking snaps away. The Raiders invested two draft picks at the wide receiver position this past April with the 58th overall pick used to snag Bech from TCU and the 108th selection to take Thornton out of Tennessee. Lockett’s arrival portends to the veteran getting snaps which are likely to reduce the involvement of both rookies. The pair of neophytes haven’t had the most productive initial season in the league: Bech has seven catches for 73 yards while Thornton has five receptions for 94 yards under his belt. Neither have hauled in a touchdown pass. But the 22-year-olds can use all the snaps they can get to develop. And their miniscule numbers are better than Lockett’s.
Perception and realty. With yet another former Seahawk added to the mix, there’s a prevailing perception that it’s Carroll who has final say on roster with general manger John Spytek deferring to the 74-year-old coach. While Spytek noted that it’s a joint collaborative effort between he and Carroll when asked about who has final say, perception is an interpretation of reality. While we don’t know the exact nature of the dynamic, bringing in a veteran wide receiver who has less production than two of the rookies you spent valuable draft picks on doesn’t seem like a prudent move. Granted, Lockett played with rookie quarterback in Cam Ward and the Titans sacked head coach Brian Callahan, but the dip in production is still apparent.
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