Seahawks must pay DK Metcalf and not roll the dice again

DK Metcalf is without a doubt a generational player. It makes no sense for the Seahawks to trade him just as he begins his peak performance years.

There’s a key difference between any potential trade of DK Metcalf and the deal that sent Russell Wilson to the Broncos. The former Seahawks QB (man, it’s weird to write that) is 33 years old. I’m sure Russ has several years of great football left, but he’s certainly entering the downside of his career. Metcalf is only 24 and has his best years ahead of him.

Of course, there’s a lot of conjecture that Seattle could trade Metcalf, or even be forced to do so. As Lee Vowell correctly pointed out, DK attended voluntary OTAs and sat out mandatory practice. That’s an unmistakable message from the Seahawks star and his agent, Tory Dandy. Regardless of the obstacles, the Hawks need to get a deal done.

Seahawks will find it very difficult to replace DK Metcalf

Before number 14 caught a single pass for the Seahawks, I predicted he’d have a rookie season worthy of a Hall of Fame career. As it turned out, that was spot on. I know almost all 12s know, but for those just wandering by, match the rookie seasons to the correct player:

A: 58 receptions 900 yards 7 touchdowns

B: 54 receptions 705 yards 4 touchdowns

C: 48 receptions 756 yards 4 touchdowns

Respectively, those are the rookie campaigns of Metcalf, Seahawks all-time great Steve Largent, and the player most often compared to Metcalf, Calvin Johnson, AKA Megatron. That’s not too shabby a start, now is it? But what matters now isn’t what Metcalf has done, but what he’s likely to do next.

Let’s look at what both Largent and Johnson did in years 4-7 and compare them to their first three seasons. Hawks legend Largent averaged 839 yards, 53 catches, and 7.3 touchdowns in his first three years. Over the next three years, he averaged 1175 yards, 69 catches, and 8 touchdowns. Megatron averaged 64 catches, 1024 yards, and 7 touchdowns in his first three years. In years 4-7, his averages were 98 catches, 1588 yards, and 11 touchdowns.

I see no reason that Metcalf wouldn’t show the same career growth – Seahawks quarterback play notwithstanding. It makes absolutely no sense for the Seahawks to trade a player with the talent of DK Metcalf for what is in essence a roll of the dice. Drafting a player this amazing takes luck along with a lot of great scouting.

Eight wide receivers were selected ahead of DeKaylin Zecharius Metcalf. Just think, he can probably sign three times as many autographs by using DK. Makes perfect sense. Anyway, of the eight players taken ahead of our hero, only three have been consistent starters. Granted, those three are pretty good: A.J. Brown, Deebo Samuel, and Marquise Brown.

The three players drafted just ahead of Metcalf are J.J. Artega-Whiteside, Parris Campbell, and Andy Isabella. They have combined for 81 catches, 1076 yards, and six touchdowns. That’s their combined production over three years. In other words, that’s nine seasons of play that equals about one of Metcalf’s.

Sure, the Hawks could snag the 2023 equivalent of A.J. Brown with a sweet draft pick from whoever their trade partner might be. There will definitely be great receivers in the 2023 draft. Projections from walterfootball.com show several of the same players as those from profootballnetwork.com and draftwire.usatoday.com. Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Kayshon Boutte will both likely be superstars in the NFL. They could also be the next Corey Coleman or Kevin White. The Seahawks know what DK Metcalf can do. They rolled the dice on him and rolled a natural. You have to keep a winner.