NFL expert gives Seahawks strong piece of advice about DK Metcalf

The Seattle Seahawks are in a weird spot next offseason. According to Spotrac, Seattle has just $8.5 million to spend next offseason, and that is clearly not enough to attract high-end free agents to the team. Still, one reason Seattle has such little cap room is that the roster is young, and much of the money is tied up in rookie deals.

Seattle could make more room fairly easily if they were to release inconsistent edge rusher Dre'Mont Jones (savings of a bit over $11 million) and if wide receiver Tyler Lockett were to retire (saving of $26 million). Still, Lockett's production would be a big void to fill and Jones might get better as the season grows old.

The biggest questions Seattle might have next offseason is whether to sign Geno Smith and DK Metcalf to extensions with another year left on their contracts. Both are signed through 2025 currently. Having them sign extensions would also lower their cap hits in 2025.

NFL expert believes the Seahawks must sign DK Metcalf to an extension

Neither will be cheap, however. Smith is playing like a top-ten quarterback and he does not have the wear and tear on his body that most 34-year-old quarterbacks have since he was a backup for so many seasons. He could be offered at least $40 million a season by a team in free agency after 2025.

Metcalf's current deal pays him an average of $24 million a season which ranks outside the top ten among receivers. Metcalf's numbers might not show that he is a top ten receiver in terms of production, but he likely was held back by former offensive coordinator Shane Waldron's scheme. Under new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, Metcalf was 10th in receptions and third in receiving yards through the first four games of the season.

The receiver will only turn 28 during the 2025 season so he should be young enough to have several more highly productive years. His asking price will almost certainly be north of $30 million a season. ESPN's Field Yates, for one, believes the Seahawks must keep Metcalf around no matter the cost.

Speaking with Seattle Sports 710 AM this week, Yates said, "I think that DK Metcalf is an excellent, true number-one wide receiver...if the debate is do you pay a player like that or do you not, I tend to think that the answer is fairly cut and dry for me...I think DK Metcalf is 100 percent the kind of foundational piece that I would be looking to keep around for a long, long time."

Metcalf is coming off back-to-back-to-back 100-yard receiving games, the first time in Seahawks history that has happened. He could be on pace for his best season. He should be very good for another five years or more. Yates is correct; Seattle needs to make sure Metcalf sticks around for a while.

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