Now that the 2022 NFL season is over, it's time to look ahead to an offseason that will help shape the Seahawks' fortunes in 2023 and beyond. With free agency kicking off next month and the draft following in April, Seahawks.com is taking a position-by-position look at where the team stands prior to the start of the new league year. So far this week, we've covered, quarterback, safety, running back and cornerback and today we focus on receiver. Check back Tuesday when we turn our attention to linebacker.

2022 Recap

The 2022 season started off quietly for DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, who had a combined 10 catches for just 64 yards in a Week 1 win over the Broncos. Lockett and Metcalf were fine with that, of course, because Geno Smith, tight ends Will Dissly and Colby Parkinson and Seattle's defense all shined in a victory, a result they'd gladly take over individual statistics. And while the two didn't put up big numbers in Week 1, it was no surprise to those who have been paying attention to the Seahawks in recent years that, over the course of a season, Lockett and Metcalf were Smith's go-to targets who came through time and time again.

Metcalf, who signed a contract extension prior to the 2022 season, had a career-high 90 catches for 1,048 yards and six touchdowns, then added a big game in the playoffs to close out his season, catching 10 passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns in a Wild Card loss to the 49ers. Lockett, meanwhile, had 84 catches for 1,033 yards and nine touchdowns, his fourth consecutive 1,000-yard season to match Hall of Famer Steve Largent for the longest such streak in franchise history. Perhaps even more impressive than the numbers was the way Lockett was able to quickly come back from a fracture in his hand, having surgery and missing just one game before a late-season return, while also playing through a leg contusion after he was hit where he has a metal plate in his surgically repaired leg.

Lockett and Metcalf once again playing at a high level and putting up big numbers almost feels like a given at this point, but it shouldn't be taken for granted what that duo has done since Metcalf came into the league in 2019, helping fill the void at receiver following the retirement of Seahawks Legend Doug Baldwin.

Over four seasons, Metcalf has amassed 306 catches, 4,218 yards and 35 touchdowns, and he's one of only five players in NFL history to have at least 50 catches, 900 yards and five touchdowns in each of his first four seasons. And oh, by the way, he just turned 25 years old in December.

Lockett, meanwhile, has 339 catches for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns, and this past season moved to No. 2 behind Largent on the team's all-time receiving touchdowns list. Lockett is also closing in on Brian Blades for the No. 2 spot in receptions and receiving yards.

"DK is just finding it, he's just getting started," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said after Metcalf's big game against the 49ers. "I know everybody saw him. He's so feisty and competitive and tough. He's finding his place as the player that he is as many guys are. You have to figure it out and know who you are as a player. As he realizes his impact that he can have, and the consistency that he brings, and toughness, and style, he's just getting going. The other end that we've talked about, I thought Tyler had one of his best seasons. I thought he was phenomenal again. I think this was his fourth (straight) year that he had 1,000 (yards). He was banged up too. The shot that he took on his injured broken leg from before really factored in the last few weeks. He was just trying to get back out there. He was really sore, and he took a big shot on it. He's struggled through it, fought through it, competed his way, and made so many crucial plays during the season. Again, he's an incredible player. There's not anybody that can do the stuff more consistently than him. He's phenomenal in what he does. We have to get him back to health, and get him right and all that, but he still did it. He did it anyway. He's a marvelous competitor. Amazing."

Behind Lockett and Metcalf, veteran receiver Marquise Goodwin provided strong play as the No. 3 receiver after signing as a free agent. Goodwin showed that, at 32 years old, he still has the elite speed that made him a track and field standout at the University of Texas, as well as an Olympic long jumper, and he contributed 27 receptions for 387 yards and four touchdowns before an injury unfortunately cut short his season after 13 games.

Question to answer this offseason: Who is the No. 3 receiver behind DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett?

As mentioned above, Goodwin was a solid addition to the offense in 2022, and if he were to come back, he would be in contention for the No. 3 job once again. Goodwin is set to become a free agent next month, however, so his return is not a sure thing.

When it comes to in-house options, the Seahawks are hoping that 2023 can be the year that Dee Eskridge stays healthy and can live up to his considerable potential. A 2021 second-round pick, Eskridge has looked great in practice when healthy, but he has only played in 20 of 35 possible games, playoffs included, and his impact on the offense in those games has been limited due to the time he has missed.

"He's an explosive, dynamic athlete that we've got to bring him into it," Carroll said. "We've had struggles within the process. Sometimes it takes the young guys three years. Going back to when Golden (Tate) played with us, it took him a while to get going, but he always had the potential. It's very similar. He's ready to go. He's healthy and all that, legs are good. He didn't have any problem there. He needs to have a good consistent offseason and come back and stay in good health, so that he can stay out there and make him a factor. He's got enough to help us there."

"We need to get the ball in his hands and see what he can do. He needs to be really consistent. He needs to come back and take advantage of this opportunity because we are still wide open for him. We're not closing any doors for him. He's got to do his part too. He's got to find his way to good health. That sometimes can be a challenge for guys, and he's got to overcome the nicks and the stuff that has held him back."

Another name to watch is Dareke Young, a 2022 seventh-round pick who made his mark on special teams as a rookie, but who also started to see his role on offense grow late in the season. With the versatility to do things out of the backfield, having played multiple positions in college, and with his combination of size and speed, Young is a very intriguing prospect moving forward.

"I really liked Dareke," Carroll said. "I thought he had a real chance to being a factor. He did so many positive things toughness wise, the physical part of the blocking, the catch-and-run with the couple of chances that he's had, but we've seen it. We know what he's got. His work on special teams was excellent. He was an excellent factor. We have really high expectations of what he can contribute. We have to help him with his belief in himself on how good he can be because we've really seen that he has great potential. He's a really strong, physical kid, and he loves to play that way. He's really smart. He's a really smart kid. We love that guy."

Biggest reason for optimism in 2023: Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf are really freaking good.

We've covered this already, but what Metcalf and Lockett have done over the past four years in terms of consistency and production has been remarkable, and is a big reason why the Seahawks were back in the playoffs last season. At only 25 years old, Metcalf should only continue to get better as a receiver, while Lockett is the model of consistency and showing no signs of slowing down after eight seasons in the NFL. The Seahawks have plenty to sort out at receiver beyond those two, but their play, along with the promise shown by Young late in the season and Eskridge's upside, if he's healthy, are a fantastic place to start heading into the offseason.