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The Seahawks have traded three picks -- their 4th (112 overall), 5th (167 overall) and 6th (181overall ) -- and swapped thirds with Scot McCloughan and Washington to select Kansas State WR Tyler Lockett with the 69th overall pick of the Draft.
Lockett is a smaller receiver at 5'10, 182 pounds, but was absurdly (seriously) productive at K-State, breaking his father's receiving records. In terms of a big-time playmaker, that's what the Seahawks are getting in Lockett -- as Lance Zierlein broke down at NFL.com, Lockett...
"Was selected second-team All-American as an all-purpose player and first-team All-Big 12 in 2014. Was also a Biletnikoff Award semifinalist (nation's top wide receiver). Two-time Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year (2014 and 2013). In 2013, selected first-team All-Big 12 as a wide receiver and kick returner. Caught three touchdown passes in Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl and was selected as Offensive MVP."
The Seahawks love players of his ilk and he comps somewhat in style to a hybrid of Percy Harvin and Golden Tate. He's a guy that can play inside in the slot, outside as an X or Z, and will make an immediate impact on special teams.
A few scouting reports:
From Lance Zierlein at NFL.com:
STRENGTHS Good play speed. Has twitch at top of his routes and gets separation for quarterbacks to make open throws. His father was a standout wide receiver at Kansas State and played in the NFL. Intelligent player on field who has clearly learned from his father. Nuanced route runner with ability to sell. Will vary route speed and is proficient with double moves. Scouts say his personal character and football character are top-notch. Has a knack for making explosive plays as a receiver and return man. Steps up his game when matched up against top competition across from him. Likes to block.
WEAKNESSES Very slightly built. Struggles with physical cornerbacks and can be redirected in his routes. Press coverage could be an issue for him on the next level. Scouts are concerned that he is too slightly built to be a full-time NFL kick returner. Likely relegated to the slot only in the NFL. Hands are inconsistent in traffic. Top-end speed in question. Got caught from behind more than once.
DRAFT PROJECTION Round 3 or 4
NFL COMPARISON Jarius Wright
BOTTOM LINE Highly competitive with a history of production at Kansas State. Utilizes great routes and suddenness out of his breaks to get consistent separation. Lockett is a film rat who can come in and compete for a slot receiver spot right away and should be an NFL punt returner.
STRENGTHS: Runs like the wind with speed to stretch the field and get behind the secondary on vertical patterns. Sudden, decisive footwork off the snap and in his breaks to sell routes and attract holding penalties. Dynamic and deliberate route runner.
Doesn't slow down in his cuts, showing sharp burst to create space. Deadly stop-and-go and double moves with a strong understanding of how to separate in his routes. Slippery as a ballcarrier with excellent start/stop quickness, changing gears well with his spatial awareness and vision. Instinctive and decisive returner. Tracks and adjusts well, confidently attacking the ball with his hands. Terrific sideline awareness to toe tap with coordination while finishing.
Scrappy and not afraid to get physical in tight coverage, using his hands to create room to work. Experienced lining up inside and outside, starting 42 games in college. Extensive experience as a return man at Kansas State with a school-record 2,196 career kick return yards (28.5 average) and four touchdowns and 488 career punt return yards (15.2) and two scores. Holds 17 school records, including breaking his father's career marks for catches (249), receiving yards (3,710) and touchdown receptions (29). Two-year team captain with strong football character and instilled competitive drive.
Football bloodlines as his father (Kevin) and uncle (Aaron) both played wide receiver for Bill Snyder at Kansas State in the mid-1990s - Kevin was a second rounder (47th overall) in the 1997 NFL Draft and played seven seasons in the NFL.
WEAKNESSES: Shorter-than-ideal and thin-framed with very little muscle mass or room to bulk up. Short arms and small hands with a marginal catching radius. Will fight the ball at times with a bad habit of running before securing, leading to drops.
Not a reliable plucker away from his body. Light and can be knocked off his route easily, struggling to win in contested situations despite his high competitive nature. Was rarely engaged by Big 12 defenders before he touched the ball and has never been challenged by press coverage. Goes down too easily with arm and fingertip tackles and won't pick up yardage after contact with virtually no power to his game as a ballcarrier.
Limited as perimeter blocker. Room to improve his ball security with six fumbles on his resume. Frail-looking frame leads to durability concerns and was banged up at times in college, including a lacerated kidney (Nov. 2011) and a nagging hamstring issue that plagued him throughout 2014.
Bio: Four-year starter awarded all-conference honors at receiver since his sophomore campaign and named as an All-American kick returner in the past. Posted career totals of 106 receptions, 1515 yards and 11 TDs as a senior. Career-best 35.2-yard average on 16 kick returns came as a freshman.
Positive: Explosive skill player with home-run hitting speed. Quick in all his actions, immediately gets to top speed and easily beats defenders in a foot race. Sells routes, nicely tracks the deep pass and easily makes the over the shoulder reception. Adjusts to errant throws, showing the ability to extend his hands and snatch the ball from the air. Comes back to the ball to make himself an available target. Translates his timed speed to return skills and alters the momentum of games with big plays.
Negative: Does too much unnecessary body catching rather than snatching passes away from his frame. Double catches a lot of throws. Gives effort for contested passes but small and loses out in battles.
Analysis: Lockett is a true vertical threat who has opponents playing back on their heels and is a big-play machine at receiver or as a return specialist. Size is an issue as are his pass-catching fundamentals, but Lockett has too much skill not to be given a chance as a slot receiver/return specialist.