The Seattle Seahawks had a tumultuous offseason last year. The team removed Pete Carroll from his head coaching duties and hired Mike Macdonald to replace him. A year later, the Macdonald hire looks like a good one. Still, this offseason could see a lot of changes as well, especially when it comes to who stays on the roster.
One of those moves might be Seattle trading wide receiver DK Metcalf. Hopefully, the receiver will still be around for a number of years, but general manager John Schneider is also certainly not going to look away if another team offers Seattle a good deal for Metcalf. After all, the Seahawks traded the best quarterback in franchise history, Russell Wilson, in 2022. Anything is possible.
The question is how much Seattle could expect to get in return for Metcalf. If that is only a third-round pick or lower then the move would not be worth it. Let's assume that any trade of the receiver would involve at least a second-round choice. How would that affect the Seahawks' draft plans? Here are some logical scenarios.
How would a trade of DK Metcalf affect what the Seattle Seahawks do in the 2025 NFL draft?
DK Metcalf to the Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders have a new coach, and he is familiar to 12s, of course. Pete Carroll is taking over Las Vegas and he will want to immediately re-set the culture. One way of doing that is by bringing in players he trusts. The Raiders are not going to give up their first-round choice (pick six overall) for the receiver, though.
Would Seattle bite if the Raiders offered their second-round selection (number 37 overall)? Maybe. That is awfully close to the backend of the first round, so there should be lots of players of quality available.
As with any of these trades, Seattle is going to need to find a receiver to try to replace Metcalf. The Seahawks cannot afford to wait until the fourth round or so to do that. The key is that any rookie receiver is going to be a lot less expensive than Metcalf, and that is one of the few reasons to move Metcalf. Stanford's Elic Ayomanor should still be available in the second round and he has good speed and size.
DK Metcalf to the Green Bay Packers
The Packers pick at number 23 overall, but as with any team, Seattle is probably not going to get a first-round choice back for Metcalf unless he is coupled with the Seahawks' first-round selection or another player. Green Bay's second-round choice isn't until pick 54.
Seattle could move Metcalf to the Packers for Green Bay's second-rounder and their fourth-round choice (number 124 overall). Schneider could then try to package a few picks together to move back higher into the second round. This could be especially true if Schneider moves back from Seattle's current first-round selection spot (number 18 overall).
Packaging the picks the Seahawks get from Green Bay while also sliding back in the first round could net Seattle a number of choices around the turn of the second round. There, the Seahawks could add a defensive lineman and an interior offensive lineman. They would still need a receiver, though.
DK Metcalf to the New England Patriots
The Patriots are desperate to find a high-quality target for young quarterback Drake Maye. New England has not had a great wide receiver in quite some time, and while New England's offensive line needs to improve, Maybe also has to have weapons to throw to.
Should Schneider send Metcalf to New England, he should ask for a second-round pick and a third-rounder in return. The Patriots' second-round selection is high in the round at number 38 overall. The Patriots have two choices in the third round (picks 69 and 77). With those two new selections, Schneider would likely wait until the third round to draft a guard.
There is not a quarterback seemingly worth taking in the second or third rounds, but there are a number of receivers. Seattle could also grab one of the top tight ends in the draft as the team could release expensive Noah Fant this offseason.
Seattle would need to sign a solid receiver in free agency, but unfortunately, that comes before the draft. If Metcalf is moved, it will almost certainly be nearer the draft. If that happens, the Seahawks' draft plans will somewhat change as they would need to take a receiver earlier than expected.