The Seattle Seahawks didn't want to pay him. That is simply one of the reasons that the team traded wide receiver DK Metcalf to the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason. Couple the future contract with the receiver wanting out of Seattle, and Metcalf had to go.
What is inarguable is that Metcalf was one of the most productive receivers in Seahawks history. He is big, fast, and strong, and he has a drive to be great. What he lacks is something that Pittsburgh and quarterback Aaron Rodgers have probably already learned, and will re-learn during the regular season.
DK Metcalf is [a bad route-runner](https://12thmanrising.com/former-seahawks-wide-receiver-says-what-weve-all-been-thinking-dk-metcalf). While that doesn't sound like a terrible thing for a player to be, the truth is that he can cost his team at times. He was better-mannered in 2024 and got fewer silly 15-yard penalties for things such as unnecessary roughness, but those were always more of an annoyance.
The Seattle Seahawks were better off getting rid of DK Metcalf
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Last season, Metcalf caused quarterback Geno Smith to throw at least three interceptions when the wide receiver failed to cut his crossing route sharply, and instead rounded the route. This allowed the defender to undercut the pass and pick it off. That kind of thing can change games.
Metcalf has good hands, and he is capable of splashy plays that affect outcomes of games, but he can set up his team for a loss that shouldn't happen, too. Are the Steelers better with Metcalf? They better be because after trading for the receiver, the team gave him an extension that will pay him as much as $150 million over five years.
Is Metcalf a transformative receiver who is going to elevate his team to a playoff contender who could make a real run at the Super Bowl? He isn't. He didn't do that with the Seattle Seahawks. He appears to be a solid citizen off the field, but on the field his temper fails at times.
Seattle was right to move on from DK Metcalf, especially as much money as he wanted to get. He didn't want to play for the Seahawks anymore and teams can't have players on their roster like that. They are bad for team culture. Let's see how long he stays healthy [with the Pittsburgh Steelers](https://12thmanrising.com/dk-metcalf-took-cheap-shot-pittsburgh-steelers-royalty).
He is almost certainly going to have a different quarterback in 2026, and there is no guarantee Aaron Rodgers will be good in 2025. At least, Metcalf will get paid a lot to play. That is likely what he truly wanted anyway.