The Seattle Seahawks have already traded Russell Wilson and many of the same reasons exist for trading DK Metcalf. I should let it be known that I am anticipating negative reaction to this article not from the writing (which is probably bad enough) but to the subject.
I almost decided to mirror The Shining but instead of writing pages and pages of “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” to write, “I do not want DK Metcalf to be traded and want him to be extended.” But the damage would still be done.
I don’t want DK Metcalf to be traded. He is 24 years old and a very good receiver who likely hasn’t reached his potential. He should be one of the best wide receivers in the NFL for the next seven years. The Seahawks need more players like Metcalf, not fewer. Why trade Metcalf in hopes of drafting another Metcalf with the picks Seattle gets back?
Three potential trades the Seahawks could pull that include DK Metcalf
That’s an easy answer. General manager John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll (who also happens to be Vice President of Football Operations) would trade Metcalf if the price was right to get multiple chances of choosing the next Metcalf. That’s the thing. With Metcalf, Seattle shouldn’t just get one draft pick in return, but multiple choices.
The market for wide receivers has never been higher. The Packers traded Davante Adams to the Raiders for multiple picks, including a first-rounder. The same goes for what the Dolphins gave to the Chiefs for Tyreek Hill.
But Seattle could also save tons of money long-term. Seattle would get lots of draft capital back for Metcalf but also not have to pay him $28 million or more in an extension. This would be a win-win except that the Seahawks would lose the services of the great Metcalf.
So where might DK Metcalf go? Possibly the three teams that follow.
Green Bay Packers
The Packers, of course, shipped Davante Adams to Las Vegas and now need a new stud at wideout. Green Bay’s current depth chart at the position is underwhelming. Giving quarterback Aaron Rodgers a huge contract but no weapons doesn’t make sense so why wouldn’t Green Bay try to pry DK Metcalf from the Seahawks?
Because of the Adams trade, the Packers have two first-round picks in the 2022 NFL draft and two second-round choices. This includes a pick for each round Green Bay obtained from the Raiders and one of their own. To get Metcalf, any team needs to give the Seahawks at least one first-round choice.
When the Dolphins traded with the Chiefs for Tyreek Hill, Miami gave Kansas City a first-round pick and a second-round one in this year’s draft. If Green Bay wants Metcalf (and I mean, why wouldn’t they?) then giving Seattle what they acquired from the Raiders in the trade for Adams makes sense.
Green Bay didn’t have those picks until the Adams trade so getting Metcalf for the picks they got from the Raiders would give Aaron Rodgers a superstar receiver and Green Bay isn’t really losing anything they had in January: The Raiders picks.
Washington Commanders
Washington needs lots of things to be good on the field but they also need to rebuild their image. Maybe this doesn’t truly happen until Dan Snyder is no longer the owner because drama and trouble seem to follow him with the Commanders. But adding DK Metcalf improves Washington on the field, gives newly acquired quarterback Carson Wentz another great wideout but also gives the Commanders a young player who has a sterling personality and could be one of the faces of the franchise.
Washington, as weird as it sounds, might have a better receiving corps than does Green Bay currently. This is because the Commanders have Terry McLaurin. McLaurin would be Metcalf’s Tyler Lockett equivalent in Washington. The difference is that McLaurin isn’t as good as Lockett meaning Metcalf would be the clear number one receiver.
But McLaurin also takes the focus from opposing defenses away from solely needing to cover Metcalf. McLaurin’s presence would allow Metcalf to put up great numbers. And while Wentz has his issues, he actually throws a decent deep ball and that would be great for a player like Metcalf.
But Washington could offer almost a player-for-player deal with the Seahawks. Chase Young is an excellent young player himself and Seattle would love to have another edge rusher in a defensive scheme that should be a lot more aggressive in 2022. Still, Washington probably needs Metcalf more than Seattle needs Young so maybe a late-round pick would be a nice pick up for the Seahawks too.
New York Jets
The New York Jets have a terrible offense and need help in lots of different ways. But just imagine DK Metcalf in New York. Not the team, mind you, but the city. Metcalf’s personality is made for a place like New York. He is funny, outgoing and the camera likes him. He would be a megastar in New York. Oh, and he would help the Jets be better too.
But, of course, as a Seahawks fan, I don’t really care if the Jets are any good. So what’s the attraction of trading Metcalf to the Jets? Draft picks and lots of them. New York has been needing a player like Metcalf for years so why would the Jets not happily give up some of their abundance of draft capital for him?
New York also needs a great receiver or two to help second-year quarterback Zach Wilson. Wilson struggled in 2021 because he had no help in the passing game and poor protection. Metcalf would give Wilson the kind of target that every quarterback craves.
For Seattle, they need to ask for quite a bit. The Jets currently have two top-ten choices in the 2022 draft, pick number 4 and pick number 10. Seattle doesn’t need number 4. While the Seahawks would get a potentially great player at number 4, there isn’t a huge difference between 4 and 10 this year. So Seattle should ask for pick 10 which is the pick New York got from Seattle in the Jamal Adams trade in 2021.
But the Seahawks should also ask for one of New York’s two second-round choices this year as well. Plus, pick up a couple of 2023 picks and the trade should be done.