The Pittsburgh Steelers made a big investment at wide receiver this year by trading for DK Metcalf. They sent a second-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks for him and also gave him a massive contract extension. It was an uncharacteristic move by the Steelers, but that says how highly they think of him. He had a solid debut with them, too, catching four passes for 83 yards against the New York Jets. Former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez thinks that Metcalf has a lot of untapped potential that Aaron Rodgers could unlock.
“You can tell a guy like DK Metcalf is really, really gonna benefit from having a steady presence at quarterback like that,” Sanchez said recently on his Rearview podcast. “A guy who’s gonna throw him open, a guy who’s gonna motivate him and call him out when he’s not at the right depth at the right time, which is a receiver’s job.
“I’m excited to see those guys grow together this year and see where DK Metcalf goes next. The sky’s the limit for a guy that big, that strong, and that fast. He’s tough to bring down and he’s tough to guard. I think those two are gonna have a lot of fun.”
Metcalf is a unique specimen, even by NFL standards. He’s got a combination of size, athleticism, and ability that hasn’t been seen in many receivers. When he came into the NFL in 2019, he even drew some comparisons to Pro Football Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson.
However, Metcalf hasn’t exactly lived up to that hype. He’s been a good player, making two Pro Bowls and being named a second-team All-Pro once, but it feels like he’s got more potential to tap into.
Rodgers could help him unlock some of that. While the four-time NFL MVP isn’t the same player he once was, he proved in Week 1 that he can still throw the ball at a high level. He and Metcalf have been working on their connection since before Rodgers joined the Steelers, too.
That work is already paying off. Metcalf made a few mistakes in Week 1, but that’s not too surprising. He didn’t suit up in the preseason, so he likely has some rust to shake off. He made several big plays, too. That includes getting yards after the catch and making an improbable circus grab.
When the Steelers traded for Metcalf, they paid him like one of the best receivers in the league. That’s the kind of production they expect out of him. So far, he’s been as advertised, but there’s a lot of the season remaining. It will be interesting to evaluate his performance with the Steelers once the year ends.
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