Wide receiver DK Metcalf wanted to be traded. He reportedly, according to The Athletic's Dianna Russini, wanted to go to a contender. The problem for the former Seattle Seahawks star is that his power ended with the trade request, while his final destination is out of his control. He did not have a no-trade clause in his contract, so the team could move him anywhere.
Seattle worked out a deal but could not get the maximum value for Metcalf. According to multiple reports, Seattle sent Metcalf to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a second-round pick (number 52 overall).
To be fair, the Pittsburgh Steelers always seemed like a clear trade destination for the receiver. At least, for Seattle's sake. Pittsburgh needed a receiver, Metcalf wanted to be traded, and Seattle knew it was unlikely to get anything better than a second-round choice for the receiver.
The Seahawks trade wide receiver DK Metcalf to the Steelers
Metcalf supposedly wants to go to a team that is a championship contender, has a stable quarterback situation, and can pay him more than $30 million a season when his current contract is up after the 2025 season. He also wanted to go to a warm-weather team. Pittsburgh could only check off a few of those items.
The Steelers do not have a stable quarterback situation. In fact, no one likely knows who their quarterback will be at the beginning of 2025. Maybe Metcalf will end up working with Russell Wilson again. Pittsburgh would need to re-sign him.
Pittsburgh did enough cap room to work out an extension with Metcalf, however. He will reportedly sign a deal that pays him $150 million for the five years after 2025, according to CBS Sports.
Pittsburgh is not currently a clear Super Bowl contender, though. The team is well-coached by Mike Tomlin, and the defense is quite good, but the offense? That is a work in progress. Metcalf did not truly have a say in who he got traded to, but a team was also likely to only want to get the receiver if he was going to sign an extension. In other words, the money likely worked out with Metcalf's agent before the trade made the receiver happy, Super Bowl or not.
Seattle now adds another draft pick to its 2025 NFL draft but will now face a free agency period and 2025 season without Metcalf, quarterback Geno Smith, and wide receiver Tyler Lockett. Receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba will feel awfully lonely until he knows what the future looks like.
Seattle does open up more cap room, however. According to Over the Cap, Seattle now has $68,413,705 to spend. The team could fix its offensive line with that, but the Seahawks also now must fix their skill positions, too.