In the potential trading Packers will benefit from “full experience of DK Metcalf” – Sports Illustrated

Green Bay, Wis.-Green Bay Packers never use the first round choice to make a receiver. Can General Manager Brian Gutukunst trade a first round choice to acquire a proven receiver, such as the Seattle Seyhox DK Metcalfe star?

This was an option raised by the ESPN Ben Solak analyst After Green Bay’s young receiver failed to take a step forward in his second season with Jordan Love.

“Expect them to be in the hunt of Tee Higgins,” Solak writes, “but if they make him be too expensive for them, they could package a disappointed star from another team. Gareth Wilson? DK Metcalf? I would bet on the latter. “

Metcalf, a second round selection in 2019, is ancestral for Seahawks. Metcalfe, who turned 27 one day before Packers’ victory in Seattle in December, caught 66 omits for 992 yards and five touchdowns in 2024. He ended with at least 900 yards in all six seasons, including 1,000. 2024

Metcalfe will enter his last contract and has a basic salary of $ 18 million in 2025. Seahawks, with big problems with the capIt will strive to reduce the salary.

Probably before the trade was finalized, the Packers and Metcalf agent, Joseph Kiels, would agree to the contract extension, so it won’t just be a one -year rent.

Including Metcalf, there are 23 receivers that make at least $ 20 million a season. It will be much closer to $ 30 million a season – a threshold hit by six successors – to $ 20 million.

When Packers traded Raiders Davante Adams in 2022, they received drafts from the first and second relationships. Adams was better than Metcalfe, but also two years older. When the superiors traded the Tirek hill on the dolphins, they received five drafts – one in the first, second and sixth rounds and two in the fourth.

It is these two paragraphs – money and finance – make the blockbuster the trade so rare in NFL, as a whole and non -existent in Green Bay.

“Better to be right, do you know?” General Manager Brian Gutukunst said at the end of the season. “When you trade a high choice for a veteran player, you trade a young, really good contract for a player who is proven but probably expensive. So, you give up a place to choose and pay. So, I think you have to weigh this. “

The papers have not made a significant trading for a player since they acquired Bret Faver from the Falcons. Under Gutekunst, Packers traded Adams in 2022, Rasul Douglas in 2023 and Preston Smith in 2024.

This does not mean that Gutekunst would not make a bold move. With a change in the top of the organization, he may feel strengthened to do so.

Unlike this time a year ago, there are significant questions in the receiver. Christian Watson will miss the first half of the season with a torn ACL and Doubs suffered a pair of shocks in the second half of the season. They will enter their last season under contract.

Metcalf in 2024 exceeded 100 receiving yards for 2, 3 and 4 weeks, but not again. The papers kept him on a low season 28 yards of three catch in the 15th week.

Metcalfe would be great at Green Bay. Before the match against Packers, Seattle was in a winning series of five games. During this section he had one game of more than four catch, one game of more than 70 yards and one touchdown game.

With the protective scheme to limit his production, Metcalfe took it in a step.

“I just look at this as a sign of respect that I have won from other defense coordinators and continue to do my job as a blockage or a lure,” he told reporters this week. “The ball will find me one or the other game, but if it doesn’t, at least we get DUB and that’s all that matters in this League is to win and continue to win.

“And if you continue to win, you remain up -to -date. So no, I’m just redirecting to keep doing my job. If the statistics do not say so, then be the case. At least we will win. “

At 6 feet-4 and cut 235 pounds, Metcalfe is proud to influence the game in ways other than catching football. So he is accustomed to being a receiver # 1, but not necessarily a large -volume receiver with five games with 10 plus goals in the last two years.

“I try to block my ass and try to get the pancakes on the backs,” he said when he asked him what he was prioritized when he didn’t get the ball.

Metcalfe’s father, Terrence, began 25 games on the offensive line in seven seasons with Chicago bears. He enjoys the physical part of his game.

“Man, just the competitor, the ruthless competitor,” said Seahawks coach Mike McDonald before Green Bay’s game. “I just like to see him there, man.” Feel good when he’s where he does his own thing.

“I know that if the teams want to play like a high-down, double on it, then it’s a little harder to get his ball. So, we must continue to find creative ways to make sure that it comes to life. But when this does not happen, then I think we will definitely feel the full experience of DK. ”

Metcalf is a double trouble. With elite size and speed, he grabbed 16-from-32 passages, thrown 20 or more yards down with five touchdowns in 2024, according to PFF. All Green Bay receivers, combined last year, had five deep gaps. Plus, he broke 60 games in six seasons.

Metcalfe would be a great upgrade for a crime that never rolled in 2024. It would be expensive, but Metcalfe was in its prime and at first glance would be suitable for Green Bay’s culture.

“I think we are looking for those guys who are currently we have to take a step in this role, where they are more consistent based on down,” Gutukunst said of receipt # 1.

“Certainly, if there is someone outside our building, whether it is a draft, free agency, it makes some sense for us, we will surely look to do it, but we are also looking for those guys to continue to grow and,” Hopefully, grow into this space. “