The Tennessee Titans made the decision to release veteran wide receiver Tyler Lockett in October. Lockett had been totally ineffective and unproductive in seven games, recording just 10 receptions for 70 yards and zero touchdowns. His release paved the way for rookie Chimere Dike to play more snaps on offense, and Dike has taken full advantage of that opportunity.
Lockett quickly signed with the Las Vegas Raiders. It was an opportunity for him to reunite with head coach Pete Carroll and quarterback Geno Smith, who he previously spent time with in Seattle. Lockett essentially became the Raiders' No. 1 receiver following their decision to trade Jakobi Meyers to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Though Lockett has been productive from a statistical perspective in Vegas, context offers more insight. The 2-9 Raiders are an absolute disaster. The Raiders are discovering that a successful offense can't function in 2025 with Lockett as one of its main contributors, a lesson the Titans learned in September.
The Raiders are learning a lesson about Tyler Lockett the Titans already knew
It's not Lockett's fault the Raiders are expecting him to carry a heavier workload than he's suited to. That failure falls at the feet of GM John Spytek and his coaching staff. Lockett is simply executing the role he's been asked to serve.
The Raiders have dropped all four games Lockett has appeared in. And though he's registered 30-plus receiving yards in three consecutive contests, the majority of that production has been accumulated in garbage time. Sunday's Week 12 showing versus the Cleveland Browns represented a new low.
The Raiders lost 24-10 to the Browns. Starting quarterback Geno Smith was sacked on a historic 10 occasions. Lockett was their leading receiver, with four catches for 62 yards. It's a telltale sign of an ineffective offense.
The Raiders fired offensive coordinator Chip Kelly following Sunday's lackluster showing. The Raiders are fielding one of the worst offenses in the entire NFL. Though Lockett appears to be producing half-decent numbers, positioning him as a go-to receiver in 2025 is a sign of an awful offense.