As Adam Schefter has reported, the Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf has requested a trade, which the team has honored and has let him begin talking to other teams. Metcalf will be of interest to plenty NFL teams but only a few will have the resources to complete a trade and the cap space to extend him, potentially shaking up the wide receiver market. Fresh off a playoff appearance, the Green Bay Packers could be the perfect landing spot to bolster their offense with the talented Ole Miss product.
Metcalf, 27, is entering the final year of his three-year, $72 million extension he signed in 2022. Per overthecap.com, he is due a $31 million cap hit to Seattle this season, but that number lowers to $21 million if he's traded or cut. After the surprising move to trade quarterback Geno Smith, it now seems inevitable that Metcalf will be traded as the team looks to reset completely.
Metcalf has clarified he'd prefer a trade to a warm city contender, but does not have a no-trade clause attached to his last extension. So, while he has some control over the situation, the Seahawks will get the final say and will need fair compensation to turnover their player. However, other teams may not be willing to drive up the price considering the extension that will be required after obtaining Metcalf.
The Packers certainly fit the mold of a consistent contender. Green Bay has made the playoffs in five of the last six seasons, and need a receiver upgrade to get over the hump in the playoffs.
It would be a seamless fit schematically. Metcalf is at his best as a deep threat and physical playmaker, and has shown to be a capable first target. The Packers have been missing that despite a bevy of young talent at the position, but have yet to see any of those on the roster turn into a reliable full-time threat.
Moreover, Christian Watson tore his ACL in the final week of the regular season, putting his 2025 season, which is a contract year, in doubt. Metcalf can not only step into his field stretching role, but also be a significant upgrade and centerpiece to the offense.
The Packers currently rank 17th in available cap space with $42.7 million and have all of their draft picks available to them, currently sitting 23rd in the pecking order.
It would be an aggressive move for the Packers to go after the receiver by trading picks and extending him after, but it would signal the franchise's intentions to compete. However, they may prefer to go the free agent route and save the picks. A reunion with Davante Adams remains on the table, and other names like Stefon Diggs and Chris Godwin could be possibilities. Rather the cold weather would turn Metcalf off of a Packers trade has yet to be seen, but it would become a choice between comfort or contention.
The Seattle Times reports that Metcalf spends his off-season in the Los Angeles area, which could make the Chargers front-runners should they be aggressive for the receiver. They select one pick ahead of the Packers and have a few extra late-round selections to part with, along with the second most cap space in the league. Should the Chargers want him they can almost assuredly make all parties the happiest.
Ultimately, the Seahawks are going to want to get the most return on value for their coveted receiver and should get a decent return with the amount of interest he has garnered. With a self-imposed deadline of the draft, it should just be a matter of time before Metcalf is moved.
Copyright 2025 Athlon Sports. All rights reserved.
This story was originally published March 9, 2025 at 4:53 PM.
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