It seemed like just a matter of time until DK Metcalf was a member of the LA Chargers. Unfortunately, Metcalf ended up just being a mirage for Chargers fans as the former Seahawks wide receiver has officially been traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Steelers are trading a second-round pick to the Seahawks for Metcalf and will sign the star wideout to a five-year, $150 million contract extension.
The Chargers were reportedly at the top of Metcalf's preferred destinations list and could have matched this trade to get Metcalf in the building. It is safe to assume the Bolts completely passed on the chance to trade for Metcalf given the circumstances.
Chargers opt against trading for DK Metcalf, who lands with the Steelers instead
Pittsburgh is trading the 52nd pick in the draft to Seattle for Metcalf. With the 55th pick in the draft, Los Angeles easily could have matched the trade if the team really wanted to.
The Seahawks would not have let the difference of three spots in the NFL Draft order completely decide which trade they were taking. If the Chargers offered the 55th pick, and even threw in a late-round pick to make up for the difference, then Metcalf would be a Charger right now.
It is clear the Seahawks worked with Metcalf to find him a team where he could sign an extension. And while he will never admit it now, Metcalf absolutely would have chosen to go to the Chargers if everything was the same.
Why would Metcalf ever choose to play in cold Pittsburgh for a team that doesn't even have a starting quarterback right now over playing in Los Angeles with Justin Herbert? He wouldn't. This trade happened because the Steelers outbid the Chargers.
How high were the Chargers willing to go for Metcalf? That answer may never be revealed. But it is clear the team did not want to trade a second-round pick and commit $150 million to getting Metcalf.
With Davante Adams signing with the LA Rams on the same day, the Chargers are now left scrambling for wide receiver help. Chris Godwin is the biggest name on the market but it is hard to see the Bolts paying him $25+ million a year if they didn't want to pay Metcalf $30 million a year.
This may price the Chargers into the Darius Slayton/Keenan Allen tier. There is at least a homecoming element with Allen that makes it a good story. Slayton, on the other hand, would represent yet another example of the Bolts settling for a mid-tier receiver who doesn't raise the bar.