Photo: DK Metcalf or George Pickens confronting a referee, opposing player, or fan. 2025, colorized.
I must admit that, until last night (a few minutes shy of 8:00pm ET), today’s entry was going to be about the NHL trade deadline that elapsed on Friday. Kyle Dubas did a masterful job trading players for draft compensation, and the Penguins now have 11 picks in 2025 (6 in the first 3 rounds), 8 in 2026 (6 in the first 3 rounds), and 11 in 2027 (6 in the first 3 rounds). Those 18 picks in the first three rounds over the next three seasons is the highest tally in the National Hockey League, as the organization looks to rebuild on the fly.
However, news struck at 7:49pm last night with a tweet from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. It read, “Blockbuster: The #Steelers are acquiring two-time Pro Bowl WR DK Metcalf from the #Seahawks, sources tell me and @RapSheet. Metcalf, 27, is also expected to get a new contract, while Seattle gains flexibility and draft capital as they continue to retool.”
The details would funnel in shortly after. The Steelers traded a 2025 second-round pick (along with the teams flipping sixth- and seventh-round selections) for Metcalf, and DK agreed to a five-year, $150-million deal. The contract included the remaining one-year, $8-million left on his current deal, so the extension is worth $132 million over four years. At an average of $33 million per year, it is the largest contract in the history of the Pittsburgh Steelers organization.
In his six years in the NFL, DK Metcalf has amassed 6324 yards and 48 touchdowns on 438 catches, averaging 14.4 yards per reception. He has never had fewer than 58 catches or 900 yards (both of which were his rookie season tallies in 2019), and his lowest touchdown production was five scores this past season in a year where he missed two games due to injury. There are no real question marks about durability, though, as he has played 97 of a possible 100 regular season games in his six NFL seasons.
The contract, in my opinion, is an overpay. DK’s production is good, but he is also a head case. Similarly to his new running mate, George Pickens, DK has shown a penchant for altercations with defensive backs during his career. Having both Pickens and Metcalf on the same team will be awesome from a football perspective—opening up the field—but, from a disciplinary perspective, it will be less-than-ideal.
The other concern is far more important. The Steelers, at the time of writing, have one quarterback under contract—Skylar Thompson. Thompson was a third-string quarterback in Miami last year, and will not be anything better than that in Pittsburgh. There are rumors flying around about every free-agent quarterback under the sun being QB1 in the black and gold next year. Both Sam Darnold and Justin Fields signed elsewhere today, so it will likely be either Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson, neither of whom I am particularly fond.
The issue is that it is currently no one. Having two stud receivers is awesome—do not get me wrong—but what good does it do if you have no one to throw them the ball? If anything, it is worse, as neither Pickens nor Metcalf are immune to throwing tantrums.
I hope the quarterback situation is resolved as soon as possible (and, personally, I hope it is not 90 year-old Aaron Rodgers). The longer the situation festers, the more anxious I get. Nevertheless, after banging the drum all year last year for another receiver, we have finally acquired one, and I am thrilled. Now, let us utilize him correctly.
Rest in Peace to Steelers’ color commentator Craig Wolfley. Let’s win a ring in your memory.