Heaps: Seahawks WR DK Metcalf has earned himself ‘a mega extension’
Dec 31, 2021, 9:05 AM
DK Metcalf of the Seattle Seahawks reacts after diving to make a catch for first down during the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
(Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
The Seahawks have a number of major decisions to make this offseason, one of which includes one of the NFL’s young rising stars.
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That would be wide receiver DK Metcalf, who’s wrapping up his third NFL season. The 2019 second-round pick is slated to be a free agent after the 2022 season, which means he’s eligible to sign a long-term contract with the Seahawks this upcoming offseason.
Metcalf is having a “down year” by his standards after a stellar 2020 season as he has 64 catches for 846 yards and nine touchdowns through 15 games. Last year, he set a Seahawks single-season record with 1,303 receiving yards and he also caught 10 touchdowns while earning second-team All-Pro honors as well as his first Pro Bowl nod. In his rookie season in 2019, Metcalf caught 58 passes for 900 yards and seven scores.
So with Metcalf, 24, soon to be eligible to sign a lucrative long-term deal, is Metcalf worth a massive contract extension? Former NFL quarterback Jake Heaps shared his thoughts during Wednesday’s edition of Jake and Stacy on 710 ESPN Seattle.
“This is a conversation that when we talk about this, obviously you point to stats, right?” Heaps said. “Stats are the indicator of whether or not he is deserving of a mega contract this offseason.”
But while Metcalf’s numbers are down from 2020 to 2021, Heaps said they don’t tell the whole story of how great of a player Metcalf truly is.
“I would argue that even though his numbers are down compared to last year, DK Metcalf , when you watch him on film, he is a star,” Heaps said. “He is an elite receiver in this league. There have been times obviously, whether it’s whether Geno Smith or whether it’s Russell Wilson struggling through the year that DK Metcalf just has not been utilized the way that he needs to be utilized (with) offensive play calling and getting him the football more.”
While Metcalf isn’t on track to surpass his 2020 yardage total by any means, Heaps said the young receiver has still had “an outstanding season.”
“He is somebody that is an absolute weapon that is feared in this league,” Heaps said. “And if DK Metcalf is going to get paid, he should get paid like an elite receiver that he is, and he is one of the young stars in this league. I believe that he has earned himself a mega extension this offseason. It may not show up in the stat sheet even though (he still has) nine touchdowns and nearly 1,000 yards again this season. I think if you had a healthy Russell Wilson this entire year, I think his numbers would be much closer to what he did a year ago and I believe his touchdown numbers would be even higher than what they were a year ago.”
Listen to the full second hour of Tuesday’s Jake and Stacy at this link or in the player below.
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