What a DK Metcalf extension could look like for the Seahawks
By Geoff Shull
Projecting what a DK Metcalf contract extension could look like for the Seahawks.
Metcalf has a lot going in his favor. The salary cap is going to continue sky-rocketing so long as another pandemic doesn’t interfere. The positions top players are getting paid left and right.
His agent can make a solid argument why he should be paid more than all of the comparable contracts already signed this off-season (Godwin, Moore, and Williams).
Age is tied with upside, production in limited offense is considered efficiency, and a homegrown star makes for chemistry. Finally, there are numerous other star-wide receivers in line for huge extensions.
The Seahawks will do one of three things:
- Trade Metcalf for a sum close to the one they traded away for Jamal Adams.
- Extend Metcalf as soon as the draft is over to ensure Drama doesn’t linger and the market doesn’t explode further.
- Finally, force Metcalf to play out the contract and utilize the franchise tag. This gives the team leverage for future trade and postpones the next steps. This could result in more team-player drama…. five straight years of off-season drama doesn’t look good to other players thinking about joining Seattle.
Let’s look at what a contract could look like for Metcalf:
New contract:
Terms: 3 years, $67.5 million
Average salary: $22.5 million
Signing bonus: $22 million
Guarantees: $47 million
Total Contract:
Total contract value (with the current year): 4 years, $71.8 million.
Average salary: $17.9 million
Cap hits by year:
- 2022: $7.338 million
- 2023: $12.5 million
- 2024: $24 million
- 2025: $28 million
This would bump up DK Metcalf’s cap hit this year by $3 million, due to the new signing bonus. I can see DK Metcalf looking at Julio Jones’ old contract with the Falcons as a number he wants to beat. I can see Metcalf wanting a 2-3 year contract to try and cash out one more time. He would hit the market again when he is just 28 once this extension concluded.
Seattle, meanwhile, would keep a leader on the team through his prime. Metcalf would account for just under a $20 million cap hit over the first two years. By the time the $24 and $28 million cap hits arrive, the salary cap should be sitting right around $250 million. Plus Lockett’s contract will likely be coming off the books around the time the larger cap hits balloon.
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