DK Metcalf was a surprise send-off during the NFL offseason when the Seattle Seahawks shipped the two-time Pro Bowler to the wide receiver-needy Pittsburgh Steelers. The Stealers had just cut bait with George Pickens, who is putting together a solid season with the Dallas Cowboys, just like Metcalf is for his new team.
Again, trading Metcalf wasn't expected, and the Seahawks quickly filled that hole with former Offensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl champion wideout Cooper Kupp. The former Los Angeles Rams veteran isn't the player he was back in 2021, but he has fit in and produced nicely for the Seahawks. We can casually forget about his Week 7 interception, though.
The man he replaced is doing the same in Pittsburgh. For Metcalf, he went from catching balls from journeyman Geno Smith to being future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers' new No. 1 target. The Steelers are sitting atop their division, and so far, while he hasn't necessarily blown up the stat sheets, Metcalf is fitting in nicely in Steel Town, and he and Rogers are working well together.
DK Metcalf trade producing good results for both Steelers and Seahawks
Metcalf may not be the ultimate route runner, but what he does bring to the table is mythical god-like strength, size, and power, which can all be witnessed in his speed and yards after the catch. Metcalf first demonstrated his incredible speed five years ago in his infamous chase-down of Arizona Cardinals linebacker Budda Baker to save a would-be pick-six.
That play was play-on-repeat-forever-worthy. Metcalf is a beast — there is no better term to identify him as. So, it was puzzling when the Seahawks decided to let him go. Perhaps they knew they had something special in Jaxon Smith-Njigba, though, and they were not wrong by any stretch of the imagination.
When Metcalf arrived in Pittsburgh, the talk about Rodgers joining him wasn't a done deal yet. Eventually, of course, Rodgers signed with the Steelers, which provided Metcalf with likely the best quarterback he's ever played with.
Despite his age, Rodgers has led the Steelers to a 4-3 record, which is good for the best in the AFC North. Rodgers hasn't been spectacular by any means, but he has been good, and that's all the Steelers need from him. Metcalf, on the other hand, could certainly offer more. That said, given the new team, quarterback, and offensive system, he's played fairly well under the circumstances.
In seven games, Metcalf has caught 27 balls for 461 yards and five touchdowns. None of those stats jump off the page as particularly spectacular, but this may be because Rodgers hasn't played spectacularly either. Metcalf has six seasons of unmitigated proof that he is a legitimate threat downfield.
So far, Metcalf's longest catch of the season is 80 yards, and he only has that one in that range. Either Rodgers just hasn't been able to get Metcalf the ball deep like that, or there are other issues.
Metcalf arrived in Pittsburgh with three 1,000-yard seasons to his name and two others that barely missed the 1,000-yard mark (967, 992). While he is on pace to hit the 1,000 mark again, it has the makings of a slow drive in that direction.
What Metcalf does have going for him right now is a career-high in yards per catch (18.5). Additionally, he's also on pace to surpass his highest total amount of touchdowns secured in the last three seasons, in which he had 6, 8, and 5.
Yards accounted for, Metcalf may seem a little bit behind, but again, considering an aged Rodgers and playing in not the most dynamic offense due to Rodgers' limitations, Metcalf is having a good season, and it's building as it goes.
Before the season began, there was talk about potential chemistry issues with Rodgers and Metcalf, given that Rodgers had never had a receiver like him before. Davante Adams, who has been Rodgers' best wideout throughout his career, plays an entirely different style of wideout than Metcalf does.
Different builds, skill sets, and dynamics were among the concerns, but there is clearly a good enough connection between Rodgers and Metcalf at the moment that it should be able to be built on further.
Should the Steelers have a solid season, hold off their divisional rivals, and make the postseason, expect Metcalf to continue to play a significant role in the offense along the way. Also expect him to have his best statistical year since 2023.
He's no Seahawk any longer, but he is finding his way with the Steelers. Plus, he looks so much more menacing in black and gold. That counts for something, right?