WATCH: DK Metcalf scores his first touchdown for the Seahawks in 2023

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf has been in the NFL for four seasons now and twice is has gone over 1,000 yards receiving. Still, Metcalf has only made one Pro Bowl. Metcalf has been productive, of course, but it just seems like he could have been more productive. Maybe some blame for that goes to the way the Seahawks offense is designed, or maybe Metcalf still needed to get better himself.

Metcalf is capable of greatness, obviously. He holds the franchise record for receiving yards in a season with 1,303 which he accomplished in 2020. That season was also Metcalf's lone Pro Bowl year. But while Metcalf hasn't missed any games the last two years, his yards-per-catch has gone down and in 2022 he had a career-low for receiving touchdowns with 6.

It just feels - for whatever that really means - that DK Metcalf is due for a breakout season. One where maybe he has 1,500 yards receiving and 15 touchdowns. He has the raw skills to do that, but he needs more targets. Since the Seahawks chose receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the 2023 NFL draft and JSN is capable of getting open over the middle, that should free up DK Metcalf for more single coverage deep downfield.

DK Metcalf scores his first touchdown of the season in Week 1 for the Seattle Seahawks

In Week 1 against the Los Angeles Rams, DK Metcalf doesn't have to face All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey. The Rams traded Ramsey this offseason and didn't really replace him with a player anywhere near his quality. Metcalf should be able to use his experience and talent to expose a young and unproven Rams secondary.

On the play, DK Metcalf ran a perfect route, a hitch and go. This left him wide open for Geno Smith. It was a thing of beauty. and hopefully one that will be repeated 15 times in 2023.

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