DK Metcalf of the Seattle Seahawks
DK Metcalf of the Seattle Seahawks | Steph Chambers/GettyImages
The Seattle Seahawks were rumored to be listening to trade offers for DK Metcalf at the NFL Combine this past weekend. The team was also officially not actively shopping Metcalf. That might have changed now, though.
According to the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Metcalf has now requested a trade from Seattle. The team has also been reported to be open to giving the green light to his request. If the move happens, this would be Seattle's second-straight offseason of massive upheaval. After the 2023 season, Seattle relieved long-time head coach Pete Carroll of his duties. This offseason, Seattle could let go of Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf.
That is partly because the Seahawks released Lockett on Wednesday. The move saves the team $17 million, but it will still be sad to see Lockett leave. He was an even better person than player, and he was a good enough player to be the organization's second-most productive receiver ever in terms of receiving yards, touchdown catches, and receptions.
DK Metcalf has requested a trade away from the Seattle Seahawks
Lockett, though, will soon be 33 years old. Metcalf is only 27 and clearly an extremely productive receiver. He might have been put off by the rumors of potentially being traded, and maybe he feels as if the team no longer really wanted him. The difference is that the Seahawks were not trying to force a move for the receiver but listening to what other teams might offer.
Metcalf has changed the conversation. He wants out. Maybe he feels as if he is going to a more wide-open offense than Seattle is expected to have under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. Head coach Mike Macdonald wants to run the ball more, and that is going to limit Metcalf's targets.
Metcalf has also turned into the second option for Seattle at wideout. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is now WR1. Metcalf is young enough to be very good for many years, but he is beginning to run out of time, too, to put up the kind of numbers that would get him into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He isn't there yet, and sticking with Seattle might not be the wisest move.
Maybe Metcalf simply wants to force an extension from the Seahawks, knowing the team released Lockett, and that means Metcalf could be more important. That might be the best hope for Seattle because losing Lockett and Metcalf in the same offseason could easily cripple the offense.
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