The Seahawks sprint from D.K. Metcalf trade request to actual Metcalf trade almost rivaled the star receiver’s famous takedown of Budda Baker. Unlike the Brandon Aiyuk saga that lasted for months, and may still be lingering, John Schneider completed his business with Metcalf in mere days. There will be no shortage of conversation about the athlete that Metcalf is, the speed Seattle now lacks, and the price the Steelers paid for his services. All worthy topics. The more fascinating one may be an aspect of Metcalf’s departure that few will consider. John Schneider and Mike Macdonald have created a cavernous leadership void on offense in the span of five days. Fans know Tyler Lockett was a leader. They know Geno Smith was as well. Metcalf was reluctant to take the mantle, but did so this past season, and your most talented player is a de facto leader regardless of his inclination. There is no veteran on the offensive line. There is no veteran in the wide receiver room. There is no veteran in the running back room. Noah Fant, all of 27-years-old and few accolades, is the oldest member of the starting offensive unit. That may be a good thing.
Seattle traded Metcalf to the Steelers late Sunday in exchange for the 52nd pick overall in the 2nd round, and a swap of 6th and 7th round picks (details TBD). The overall value of the deal, assuming the Seahawks traded the better of their two 6th round picks for the Steelers better 7th round pick, works out to about the 62nd pick overall. That barely scrapes inside the 2nd round. It is a disappointing, if not catastrophic, return for one of the most dynamic athletes the Seahawks have ever drafted.
Recent WR trades
- D.K. Metcalf + 6th round pick for a 2nd round pick + 7th round pick
- Christian Kirk for a 7th round pick
- Deebo Samuel for a 5th round pick
- Mike Williams for a 5th round pick
- DeAndre Hopkins for a 5th round pick
- Amari Cooper + 6th round pick for a 3rd round pick + 7th round pick
- Davante Adams for a 3rd round pick
- Stefon Diggs + 5th & 6th round picks for a 2nd round pick
- Keenan Allen for a 4th round pick
- Jerry Jeudy for a 5th and 6th round pick
Owning five of the first 92 picks in the draft sets the team up to infuse the offense with a series of quality starters and also take a swing at their quarterback of the future. There is not a significant difference in the prospects between 20-60 in this draft. There are receivers who could be interesting foils to Metcalf and compliments to Jaxon Smith-Njigba. A guy like Jack Bech is terrific at contested catches, a willing blocker, and a team-first person. Jaylin Noel is a speedy route runner who can create separation vertically and horizontally.
Metcalf tantalized with his limitless talents, but never became a dominant force. Maybe he was more limited than his athleticism implied. Any observer, though, would be left with the nagging suspicion that he had more to offer.
He was never consistent in catching the ball, especially in contested situations, which was odd given his size, strength, and leaping ability. He was never even average at high-pointing a ball, despite his height and vertical leap. He was too often erased from games, even with two different quarterbacks and four different offensive coordinators calling plays. There were moments of tackle breaking after the catch, but they were too often accompanied by a backbreaking fumble.
Metcalf existed in this netherworld of superhuman athleticism, above average production, and unsatisfying results. He was one of the few players to pull on a Seahawks uniform who had the potential to be the best to ever play the position. His abilities were that extreme.
He never came close to being among the best of this era, and was arguably not even the best receiver on the Seahawks by the time he left. Some of his numbers put him in the same sentence as greats like Randy Moss over the first six years of a career, but nobody would mistake Metcalf’s impact on the field with that of Moss.
That did not keep his teammates from being in awe of him as a player. His presence on the field changed the dynamic even in practices. Metcalf was an alpha. He saw nobody as his equal, partly because nobody is. Cornerbacks like Riq Woolen were able to test themselves against Metcalf’s might. It helped them gain confidence that they could play in this league, and highlighted where they had room to grow.
Smith-Njigba has been a great receiver throughout his career, but he still looked to Metcalf and Lockett as examples. Every player in a locker room looks to their most talented players as examples.
That is where Metcalf may have posed the biggest challenge for this young roster and coaching staff. There were opportunities to embrace and breathe life into this new regime after Pete Carroll was let go. Metcalf was measured in his praise of Macdonald, Ryan Grubb, his new receivers coach (Frisman Jackson), and even his quarterback. He was effusive about people who were no longer here, like Carroll, Russell Wilson, and Bobby Wagner. That would not be noticeable if it wasn’t in such stark contrast to how he spoke about the people who were still here.
He missed much of voluntary OTAs. He was short with friendly team media like Jen Mueller. He gave the impression that he was not bought in to the direction of the team or the people leading it.
None of this is to say he was a cancer in the locker room or a huge malcontent. The signs were there, though, that your most talented player did not want to be there. He confirmed that was the case when contract negotiations began this offseason by requesting a trade.
Macdonald and Schneider know how rare a player like Metcalf is. They know how much harder their jobs will be without being able to pencil him into a lineup. They also know there is a cost to having your most talented player disengaged and detracting from the program you are trying to build.
The team enters free agency without star power or strong personalities on the offensive side of the ball. Even adding a veteran player like Sam Darnold will not fill that gap. New voices will have to emerge. Kam Chancellor was once a reluctant leader until Carroll pulled him aside and prodded him to step forward in his second season. Macdonald and Kubiak are going to have to find some of these young players who are capable of setting the tone every single day.
One name that comes to mind is A.J. Barner. He had a solid, if not spectacular, rookie season. He is soft spoken, but plays with a physical edge and grinds to be better each day. Charles Cross could be seen trying to take a more vocal leadership role in the offensive line room late in the season. Abe Lucas may be more inclined to speak up as his health stabilizes. There are players in this draft class, like guard Donovan Jackson, Tyler Booker, and Gray Zabel who are tone setters. Bech fits that bill at receiver.
The defense has Ernest Jones, Jarran Reed, Leonard Williams, Julian Love, and Devon Witherspoon. Finding those types of voices and examples on offense becomes a secondary part of filling out the offensive roster this offseason. Finding the right men in addition to talented players will be a key factor in determining how quickly this offense can recover from titanic losses.