Just shy of three years since Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner left Seattle, the news broke that DK Metcalf requested a trade to take his talents elsewhere. No one knows what his exact motives are, and no one knows how general manager John Schneider will respond, so I’m here to make some sense of it.

Why does Metcalf want a trade? 

My assumption? Money. John Schneider has decided to be extra stingy this offseason. Ernest Jones IV, Geno Smith, and Metcalf were all key players in the 2024-25 season, where Seattle recorded their best win percentage since 2020-21, yet as of now, none of them have received extensions, and all of them expressed their dismay on social media. Smith and Metcalf hinted more subtly, while Jones flat-out addressed rumors about attitude issues and injury problems on his twitter account. Metcalf’s current deal, a 3 year, 72 million extension of his rookie contract, ranks thirteenth in the league in dollars per year among wide receivers. Insiders of the team and his camp indicate that he would like to jump into the top ten. I speculate that the number per year is roughly north of 30 million.

Ok. So where is the disconnect? 

Metcalf wants top 10 money, but doesn’t boast top 10 numbers. Statistically, the star receiver performed decently, averaging the second and third highest yards per game of his career in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. However, his target share significantly decreased since the arrival of Jaxon Smith Njigba in 2023. Last season was his lowest on targets since his rookie year, and although he missed a couple of games, he still steadily declined in targets for two seasons in a row. The only other receivers that are the same age (27) as him or older in the top 10 for earnings right now are AJ Brown, Tyreek Hill, DJ Moore, and Cooper Kupp, with the latter not expected to continue with the Rams. Another important stat to remember is that Metcalf is the most flagged receiver since he entered the league in 2019, and his tendency to lose control of his emotions cost Seattle too many times to count. As a Seahawks fan myself, I harbor a lot of love for DK, but I can absolutely see why the front office is wary about paying him.

Is this a negotiation tactic? 

I don’t think so. Yes, it is convenient that Metcalf’s agent requested this trade on the day that Seahawks legend Tyler Lockett was released, and the trade request is most likely an attempt to put pressure on the front office as they probably do not want to deal with two wide receiver vacancies at once. A negotiation tactic, however, is a word I would use when there’s still potential for a deal to be done, and I think that this partnership is most likely over than alive and worth saving.

Potential Trades 

Suitors for Metcalf are abundant. Rumors about the Green Bay Packers spouted last week, and the report mentioned the Packers’ first-round pick as well as wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks. However, more comparable trades like Brandon Marshall’s from Miami to Chicago in 2012 show that Metcalf is likely to go for a day 2 pick. Other suitors include the Chargers, Raiders, Patriots, and Panthers. The Titans, Broncos, Cowboys, Steelers, and Bills have also been mentioned by fans, but these are pure speculation. Seattle will be hoping to get a first round pick out of the trade in order to replace Metcalf, who was a second-round pick out of Ole Miss back in 2019.

How does Seattle replace Metcalf? 

In the case of Metcalf leaving, Seattle would need to replace him and preferably find someone to fill Tyler Lockett’s shoes at WR3 as well. If the Seahawks were to get a first-round pick, they should target one of Tetairoa McMillan, Matthew Golden, Emeka Egbuka, or Luther Burden. McMillan is an elite prospect out of Arizona who dueled well with Heisman winner Travis Hunter and showed his ability all season long in college. Golden and Egbuka are quick, athletic receivers with reliable hands and lots of promise. Burden is the riskiest of the four. He could play the Deebo Samuel role in the west coast offense with ease, but reportedly had some bad interviews, and may not be as reliable as the other three receivers mentioned. If Seattle ends up with a second or third-round pick, they should focus on names like Jack Bech, Xavier Restrepo, Tre Harris, and Jaylin Noel, each of whom can play as the WR2 behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Bech is my favorite in this group. The 23-year-old California native dropped ZERO passes last season and shows great ability to get separation. Once he has some room, he excels at the catch point and makes plays in tight spaces. This type of player would be a huge contrast to Metcalf’s drops and fumbles and would provide the stability the team previously held under Doug Baldwin and Tyler Lockett. Bech’s brother passed away in January in the New Orleans terrorist attack, and he has dealt with the loss extremely well, which is incredibly admirable and a sign of his ability to deal with adversity.