Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf is suddenly available for trade, and a case can be made that he’s the top overall player available this offseason considering the age (27), consistency (900+ receiving yards in all six NFL seasons), and upside as an extremely talented big-play threat. That said, it’ll take premium draft capital to acquire the former second-round pick. Keep an eye on these five teams for Metcalf.
Los Angeles Chargers
The team that immediately jumps out to me as a potential fit for Metcalf is the Chargers. Ladd McConkey is a star and legitimate No. 1 weapon to me, but a duo with DK could be extremely formidable in a league where having two top options can put major stress on a defense—especially with the way Jim Harbaugh and company want to run the ball to set things up for Justin Herbert. As a bonus, acquiring the star receiver could keep him away from the other potentially interested teams in the AFC West.
Las Vegas Raiders
Speaking of the AFC West, the Raiders are another squad that stands out as an obvious fit. But looking further away from the Super Bowl mix—even with Pete Carroll set to get the most out of his squad, as usual—could hurt given Metcalf’s preference to play for a contender. Still, the connection with Carroll from their time in Seattle is a plus. Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly is someone that likes big, fast, physical talent to work with. And the cap situation allows Vegas to trade for Metcalf and comfortably sign him to an extension. The question is if they’ll be more aggressive than a Chargers team arguably closer to competing for a championship.
Green Bay Packers
Rumors swirled about the Packers being interested in Metcalf during the Combine. Matt LaFleur’s offense might not need to make this type of deal, with young receivers like Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed playing well and continuing to progress. However, Christian Watson tore his ACL in Week 18, and Green Bay might want to add another outside element to their attack—and they have some cap flexibility to do so. Ultimately, the Seahawks probably need to be blown away with a trade offer to trade him to a competitor within the conference, though.
New England Patriots
While I don’t think this would be the best spot for Metcalf because there’s a lot of work to do in New England to become a Super Bowl contender, there’s little question the Patriots are going to explore acquiring Metcalf now that he’s available. New head coach Mike Vrabel was not happy when Metcalf’s friend and college teammate A.J. Brown was traded away from the Titans in 2022, and the rumors (or the hopes of people in New England) of a Brown trade to the Pats seem totally unrealistic. But we know Metcalf is at least a possibility now.
Dallas Cowboys
DK to Dallas might not be likely, but I wouldn’t totally count it out. The team cleared over $50 million in cap space with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb restructures over the past couple of days, putting themselves in a more comfortable spot with some breathing room to make a splash. Keeping in mind that star defender Micah Parsons must get paid soon, and the complexity of having to extend Metcalf while already paying Lamb a ton, I still wouldn’t be stunned if Jerry Jones comes out of nowhere with a move like this after Cowboys fans have voiced frustration over the past couple of offseasons.