Seattle Seahawks: 3 potential landing spots for DK Metcalf in a trade
By Lee Vowell
DK Metcalf could be traded to the Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are in much better shape than the New England Patriots. (I'm not a Browns fan, of course, but it was fun to write that sentence simply because it's probably been three decades since it could be written.) Cleveland has a talented quarterback, the ability to run the ball, an outstanding defense, and they are this close to being really good. But they really needed a high-level receiver with abundant speed.
Cleveland is 30th in the league in passing yards per attempt (5.6), and 26th in yards-per-catch (9.9). They basically have an offense that can be efficient because they can run, but they don't really scare defenses with receivers who can take the top off thereby helping their run game even more. The way to beat Cleveland is for a defense to play close to the line and keep everything in front of them. Metcalf will help remedy that.
Amari Cooper is a good receiver, sure, but he's only caught 24 of his 47 targets this year. He also has just 1 touchdown reception. The Browns overall just have 4. Metcalf has half that amount through five games.
The Browns don't have a first-round pick in 2024 as that was part of the trade package Cleveland sent to the Houston Texans for Deshaun Watson. But getting Watson at all means the Browns want to win now and adding Metcalf gets them closer to being very good. Cleveland would also have to create some cap space beginning next to fit Metcalf's contract under the cap, but they could find a way.
Seattle needs draft picks back, but they might get Cleveland's 2025 first-round choice as well as a second-or-third rounder in 2024. Seattle should also ask for edge rusher Za'Darius Smith in return, too. Smith is 31 years old, and he hasn't been great for Cleveland so far this year, but he has 10-plus sacks in every full season since 2019 (he was injured in Week 1 of 2021) and Smith would help offset the loss of Uchenna Nwosu who is likely to miss the rest of the season with a pec injury.