DK Metcalf trade grades for Steelers-Seahawks surprising WR deal

Another blockbuster trade has come out of the Pacific Northwest, as the Seattle Seahawks have sent WR DK Metcalf to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 2025 2nd round pick, per multiple insiders.

How do we grade this seismic trade for both sides?

This offseason, I thought the Steelers needed to try and ‘QB-proof’ their offense. The QB market is DRY and the NFL Draft options are also bare, so this offseason needed to be about getting as much talent at other positions so a street free agent QB can come in and execute the offense at a baseline level.

With the team still trying to choose between QB Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, adding Metcalf makes too much sense. While he’s a bit more of specialist at receiver, the one thing he’s good at (verticality and explosive plays) is something that meshes well with what the Steelers offense did last year and he’s one of the best in the game at that skill. Paying him $33 million a year is STEEP for a guy of his caliber, though. I think it’s fine because that’s the going price for a receiver nowadays, but sheesh.

DK and George Pickens could be very fun to watch, with the right QB...if he exists.

Look, I’m not grading the Seahawks on their overall process--if I did I would give them an F-. However, I think they got a great deal for Metcalf. Getting the 52nd pick in this draft is a nice haul for Metcalf, who had to get paid somewhere. I still don’t quite get their entire process really; are they trying to be competitive next year or going full tank? I lean towards the former and not the latter, which makes this even more confusing, but this is a good start towards their ... semi rebuild? I’m still not sure what to call it.

Good luck, Jaxon Smith-Njigba. You are now the only receiver on the Seahawks who is capable of separating at any point on the field. Jake Bobo, your time is now.