The offseason was a wild place for the entire NFL. Multiple teams took big swings, remaking major portions of their roster with quality changes, including some blockbuster trades. One of the bigger bombshells was the move for wide receiver DK Metcalf to the Pittsburgh Steelers in March.
Despite weeks of rumors about four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers potentially joining the team, it was the Steelers’ acquisition of Metcalf in March that made the first major splash of the offseason. However, as it turns out, there was another team that held the superstar wide receiver’s interest before the Steelers won the sweepstakes.
DK Metcalf Nearly Reunited With Former Coach Before Signing Pittsburgh Steelers Deal
After a solid career with the Ole Miss Rebels, Metcalf came to the league as a second-round selection for the Seattle Seahawks. Metcalf joined the team during the Pete Carroll era and put together quality seasons year after year.
A rookie season total of 900 receiving yards and seven touchdowns paved the way for five consecutive years of 950+ yards, which included three years crossing the 1,000-yard mark. In the meantime, he also earned two Pro Bowl selections and a second-team All-Pro selection.
But Carroll’s tenure came to an end with the Seahawks before the 2023 season, until he was hired by Tom Brady and the new Las Vegas Raiders organization group as the head coach of their organization.
It seems the former Super Bowl-winning coach wanted Metcalf in Las Vegas as well, along with former Seahawks signal caller Geno Smith. During the June 19th edition of “Da Get Got Pod with Marshawn Lynch & Mike Robinson,” the hosts briefly mentioned the Raiders’ rumored desire for Metcalf to join the squad.
Lynch was the first to point out the obvious: “He tried to bring everybody up out of that building.” Robinson immediately responded, “I know. Remember, DK wanted to go there.”
As fans know, that didn’t happen as Metcalf ended up with the Steelers in exchange for a first- and seventh-round pick. Still, the exchange between Lynch and Robinson offered insight into Metcalf’s mindset before he joined Pittsburgh.
Some are already questioning the Metcalf-Rodgers pairing, given Metcalf’s tendency to improvise routes and Rodgers’ preference for precision. But, for a Steelers team that ranked 25th on PFSN’s Offense+ metric, that help is a necessity.
As a result, head coach Mike Tomlin and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith were willing to take that risk. Now it’s up to the new quarterback-wide receiver combo to produce the results, especially after the Steelers lost George Pickens in a trade to the Dallas Cowboys.
