DK trade would have benefits

If the Seahawks won't extend DK Metcalf, they have to know when to trade him

The Seahawks poor offensive showing against the Bills shouldn’t be attributed to the absence of DK Metcalf (the offense has been disappointing against good defenses for awhile now) and also confirms that John Schneider must be open to all ideas at the trade deadline, including calls about DK. Seattle is in contention to make the playoffs, and they could even win their division, but riskier moves mean bigger rewards.

Has trading away a star player “in his prime” ever paid off for the Seahawks before?

There are ONLY 2 roads when it comes to DK Metcalf’s future with the Seahawks after the season: They have to trade him or extend him.

In my opinion, this is not an opinion: Receivers of his caliber don’t have to play for the $18 million non-guaranteed he’s due in 2025, which is why Brandon Aiyuk heldout from the 49ers and why he signed a 4-year, $120 million extension. Schneider knows if he wants to pay DK that much and if he doesn’t then it would be malpractice to not consider offers now.

Before YOU make your mind up, consider DK trade pros and cons.

PRO: It sends a clear message to an undisciplined team

The Seahawks don’t have to trade DK to send a message to the rest of the team, and they should not trade DK just to send a message. But if the Seahawks traded him, players will assume because DK is associated with penalties, fumbles, and fighting, that the team is willing to part with anybody who Schneider and Macdonald feel isn’t helping advance Seattle’s plan for the new era.

Think of it like Macdonald taking down old pictures, but in modern times.

It was not DK’s fault that the Seahawks lost to the Bills, or that the players only seemed to care when they were fighting with each other. I haven’t seen a Seahawks player yell at another Seahawk like that since…DK to Ryan Grubb two weeks ago. Or Geno Smith to some teammates two weeks ago.

Don’t trade DK to improve chemistry, but the potential for a wake up call to other Seahawks could have more benefits than any other outcome of a deal.

CON: DK Metcalf is good

It’s always been apparent that Geno needs DK, but DK is being used as a deep threat more than ever and Seattle wasn’t able to push the ball downfield against the Bills. He brings an element to the offense that the Seahawks aren’t getting from any other receiver and Macdonald said as much after the game.

“DK is 1-of-1. But we’ve got players that can play and so we expect them to go in and execute at a high level on the ground and in the red zone…DK wouldn’t have been out there at the goal line, you know?”

Jaxon Smith-Njigba played well (6 catches, 69 yards) but that was overshadowed and undermined by an atrocious run game. Any receiver, including DK, was in for a long day against the Bills.

Some players are irreplaceable. But not every irreplaceable player has a role that is a dire need. DK could be Seattle’s number one receiver for another five years if he stays and if that’s what the Seahawks think of him, then they must be prepared to pay him even more than what Aiyuk* got.

*Aiyuk is out for the season with a torn ACL and MCL

PRO: Teams are more desperate at the deadline

GMs can also be fired for the moves that they do not make, as Schneider knows: His protégé Scott Fitterer was let go by the Panthers not long after turning down the Rams’ offer of two first round picks for Brian Burns and then later settling for a 2 and a 5.

If the Steelers offer a second round pick and Schneider turns them down, by the time Seattle gets to the next trade window, and if EITHER SIDE wants to part ways, DK’s value could be a third, or a fourth, or even nothing.

Nobody knows if DK is going to holdout or request a trade and this move would pre-emptively end a difficult situation.

Another pro to having talks is that Schneider would find out what DK’s trade market value is and it only takes ONE offer to get an idea, but I think a handful of teams should be interested: STEELERS, BUCS, LIONS, BROWNS*, BRONCOS, CHARGERS. Any others you can think of?

*Situations like this would equate to the Bears trading a 2nd round pick for Montez Sweat at the 2023 trade deadline despite being one of the worst teams

Sweat went for a second, Leonard Williams went for a 2 and a 5, Davante Adams for a conditional second, and Amari Cooper for a third. Metcalf being valued above Cooper is logical, so the minimum could be a second and Schneider has proven he gets excellent value out of trades and there are so many ways for DK’s value to get tripped up or plummet in the next 6-8 months if they wait.

Where the Seahawks would end up

The Steelers finally make sense as a team that could trade for Metcalf: They’re 5-2, Russell Wilson is back, and Van Jefferson is one of the worst starters in the NFL.

The Seahawks would end up with this if I’m right:

• An extra second (Vital if you want them to pick a G/C)

• Over $10 million in 2025 cap space

• Increased targets for JSN, Noah Fant, Jake Bobo, A.J. Barner, etc.

• See how well Geno plays without DK before you make any commitments to the QB

There is a distinct possibility that Metcalf could ask for a trade next year if he doesn’t like Grubb, or he feels unappreciated, or just wants more than Seattle is willing to give.

The Seahawks can’t know who they’d be without DK while they’re still with DK, so Schneider can’t wait until next month to know the answer to the most important question: “Are you going to pay him or trade him?”

Both options could be right. But waiting until it’s too late would be wrong.

Seaside Joe 2037

SEAHAWKS FANS MISLED BE ERRONEOUS OL TWEET