Could loaded WR market affect Seahawks’ plans for DK Metcalf?

The Seattle Seahawks haven’t given any indication they are looking to trade star wide receiver DK Metcalf.

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But at this stage of the offseason – when bold predictions run rampant – the idea of trading Metcalf has been a popular one. Over the past month, national pundits such as ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler and Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr are among those who have written prediction pieces that featured Seattle parting ways with its ultra-talented wideout.

However, if the Seahawks are indeed interested or at least open to the idea of trading Metcalf, there could be a factor working against them.

As evidenced by an article Monday from ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, the wide receiver market is particularly loaded this offseason. Barnwell lists 17 notable wideouts who could be available via free agency, trades or releases, and it is chock-full of big names: Tyreek Hill, Deebo Samuel, Cooper Kupp, Davante Adams, Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen, Amari Cooper and Chris Godwin, to name a few.

During Seattle Sports’ Bump and Stacy on Tuesday, producer Curtis Rogers discussed how the wide receiver surplus could diminish Metcalf’s trade value for the Seahawks.

“Does that then drive down what teams are willing to give up?” said Rogers, who was filling in as the show’s co-host. “Because (those teams) know that, ‘Hey, if we’re so desperate for a wide receiver, we can go sign one of these guys that’s available in free agency.’ Or maybe you go out and trade for Tyreek Hill, who I think is more impactful than DK has been to this point in their careers.

“I look at this and it’s kind of working against any potential trade of DK Metcalf,” he added. “Like, (if your) asking price is a first-round pick, I don’t think that’s reasonable anymore, considering what is out there for teams to acquire.”

Metcalf still has one season left on the three-year, $72 million contract extension he signed in July 2022. But given the league’s booming receiver market, he undoubtedly will be looking for an extension this offseason that keeps him on pace with his peers.

And if the Seahawks keep Metcalf, they also will be incentivized to renegotiate his contract. That’s because his current deal carries a $31.875 million salary cap hit for 2025, which is the third-highest number in the league among receivers, according to Over The Cap. Seattle currently has the fourth-worst cap situation in the league, sitting at a projected $13.5 million over the cap.

There’s also additional intrigue due to Metcalf being such a tricky player to value, as The Athletic’s Derrik Klassen detailed last month on Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob.

On one hand, the 6-foot-4, 235-pound Metcalf has a rare combination of size, speed and strength that makes him one of the more unique athletes in the NFL. He also has been consistently productive, reaching at least 900 receiving yards and five touchdown catches in each of his first six seasons.

But on the other hand, Metcalf hasn’t finished in the top 15 in receiving yardage since ranking seventh with a career-high 1,303 yards in 2020.

“Timing is everything,” former NFL wide receiver Michael Bumpus said. “(Other teams) are gonna look at Tyreek Hill a bit different than they look at DK. I think teams are going to look at Deebo differently than they look at DK. And you’ve got a guy like Cooper Kupp who you can probably get for cheap because of his past when it comes to injuries.

“The wide receiver market is crazy,” he added. “And there’s (more) talent coming out of college this year. It’s going to get interesting.”

Listen to the full conversation at this link or in the audio player near the top of this story. Tune in to Bump and Stacy weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.

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