TONIGHT, 8:50pm: We’ve got more details on the picks involved in the D.K. Metcalf trade, via veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer. The sixth-round pick heading from Seattle to Pittsburgh is No. 185 overall (from the Bears). The seventh-round pick that’s going from Pittsburgh to Seattle is No. 223 overall (from the Saints). The main draft pick, the second-round selection heading to Seattle, is Pittsburgh’s own (No. 52).
SUNDAY, 6:50pm: The D.K. Metcalf situation has been sorted out prior to the start of the new league year. The Pro Bowl wideout is headed from the Seahawks to the Steelers, as first reported by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. 
Providing details on the move, Pelissero notes Seattle is acquiring a second-round pick from Pittsburgh. Regarding the extension Metcalf will sign upon arrival, an historic financial commitment has been made. The Steelers are authorizing a four-year, $132MM deal which will tie him to the team through 2029, per Pelissero. Sixth- and seventh-rounders will also be flipped, ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds.
One year remained on Metcalf’s pact, and a massive raise on his next deal was expected to come on a new team. The 27-year-old had been connected to an asking price of $30MM, and he has comfortably been able to reach it. This new deal carries an AAV of $33MM, making this an abnormally lucrative receiver investment on the part of the Steelers.
Not long after Metcalf’s trade request was issued, it was reported Seattle was aiming for a first-round pick and more in a swap. Finding a suitor willing to pay that and commit to an extension near the top of the market was always going to be difficult, though, and early today it was revealed the Seahawks’ asking price had come down. Wiling to accept a second-round selection, the team has now met its goal of working out a deal prior to the draft.
Prior to today, six receivers were attached to a deal averaging $30MM or more. Metcalf – who has recorded at least 900 yards in each of his six seasons to date – is the latest member of that group. He will face major expectations upon arrival in Pittsburgh, a team which was connected to a high-profile receiver pursuit all of last offseason. The Steelers were unable to land Brandon Aiyuk or other impact players at the position, and a deal ahead of the trade deadline for Christian Kirk fell through due to his season-ending injury. Now, though, general manager Omar Khan has pulled off a major acquisition.
George Pickens has flashed considerable potential during his first three years in the league, but issues related to effort and character have been raised inside and outside the organization. Pickens is a pending 2026 free agent, and his departure would lead to Metcalf being increasingly relied on as the focal point of Pittsburgh’s passing attack. While the likes of Calvin Austin and Roman Wilson are slated to operate in the slot, Metcalf and Pickens will each offer Pittsburgh’s to-be-determined quarterback with a pair of notable deep threats on the perimeter.
Of course, this move will lead to questions about Seattle’s WR setup moving forward. As expected, the team released longtime pass-catcher Tyler Lockett (not long before Metcalf’s trade request), leaving the latter along with Jaxon Smith-Njigba in place as options for at least 2025. Now that Metcalf is on the way out, though, Smith-Njigba is joined by Jake Bobo and Dareke Young as the only receivers currently on the roster.
Metcalf was linked to preferring a destination with a warm climate, with QB stability also being named as a factor. Considering the other suitors likely in play, Pittsburgh does not check either of those boxes as things stand. A Justin Fields re-signing could be in play, but he is set to test the market. The Texans were recently named as a landing spot Metcalf would have welcomed, and earlier Sunday Schefter’s colleague Jeremy Fowler reported the Chargers were also high on his list. Rather than being paired with C.J. Stroud in Texas or Justin Herbert in Los Angeles, however, the Ole Miss product will head to Pennsylvania and await Pittsburgh’s QB move(s).
This move will free up $10.88MM in cap space for the Seahawks while generating $21MM in dead money (h/t Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap). Metcalf will become one of the Steelers’ top cap commitments – on offense in particular – over the course of his deal, although the structure of the extension will dictate the changes made to his scheduled 2025 cap hit. For Seattle, this move shortly follows not only the Lockett release but also the trade which will send quarterback Geno Smith to the Raiders. While the Steelers’ offense will have a notable addition in 2025, it very much remains to be seen how the Seahawks’ attack will appear next season.
Finally!
I’m not wild about this commitment tbh
Not really the possession receiver they needed
Maybe trade Pickens now
Chances of Russ staying just went up, assumedly
Still a cool pickup tho
I would not be shocked at all to see Pickens dealt and they sign someone like Cupp. They are not going to pay GP more or the same as Metcalf next year.
Zero chance George Pickens gets a contract anywhere close to what DK just signed. DK is a superior receiver in every aspect of the game compared to Pickens. He has also put up far better stats then Pickens has across the board.
I think it points to Wilson will be back, and Pickens is definitely gone. Tomlin says it all the time, no hostages.
Seems to be direction things are headed.
Although no one saw this DKM trade ending in black & gold
I mean, a few of us thought that it was a good possibility. Aaron Masser basically predicted the terms in the previous D.K. thread, when NumberofTheBest posed a hypothetical Pickens-for-Metcalf scenario. The Steelers have been checking out every available wideouts for the last two cycles at least, and this draft is pretty uninspiring. I think it’s a good move, personally.
It’s doubtful, but if Wilson does come back in some scenario, he’ll have a familiar face to throw to. I’m not predicting that, nor am I endorsing it, but it’s just one thing to consider. Really, whomever the Steelers start should benefit from this move, and, hopefully for Pittsburgh, Pickens can see some easier coverages with two outside big play threats. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Pickens traded, but I also don’t necessarily think that that’s the plan right now. Metcalf isn’t old, but he’s also 27. The Steelers could trade Pickens, of course, but I don’t see them trying to do so right now.
I could be overthinking this “target underneath” thing in Arthur Smiths power-spread offense
Maybe GP13 & DKM are a perfect combo for it with twin TEs underneath
They really need a RB for this to work tho, and are now down a Round 2 pick.
I’d start mocking Omarion Hampton to them Round 1 unless they can get a pick back
I think you’re probably right. Anyway, it’s still up in the air to see if it works, especially without knowing who’s going to quarterback for them.
Seattle will give your 2 back for your 1 next year.
Wilson ain’t coming back!! They’re trying to sign Darnold long term
Well personally, yes I hope Wilson is not back. He obviously doesn’t move the needle at all.
Just think overall the odds went up a bit with DKM joining the Steelers and the benefits of continuity at QB.
If I had to guess they end up with Rodgers, but quite a few options out there at QB surprisingly this offseason
Nice we could only get a single second round pick out of this
I was expecting late first round or 2nd+3rd but I guess his contracts too big
Yeah, the new deal was going to complicate matters. There’s the extra late round swap, but it’s obviously not close to the high round. Still, it’s a good haul, especially if Seattle didn’t want to worry about having to carry Metcalf’s future cap hit on their own books going forward.
The downside is that it decreases Seattle’s offensive options for luring in a choice quarterback (like Darnold, who they’ll need to entice with money if they want him), but the extra pick and cap space that would have been used to sign Metcalf might make the next offseason eventful.
Hey we swap 6th and 7th rnd picks too. Don’t forget about those picks. You never know we could find a true gem there. Maybe we could find the replacement for DK.
Must be a hefty contract because that is not the warm climate he wanted.
Maybe he can get a terrible blanket to keep warm
So much for wanting to play somewhere warm
If he wanted somewhere warm he would want to go to the warm place obviously
Signed a 5/$150M extension.
4/$132M. I stand corrected
Not sure I’d want to spend that much money and a second on Metcalf, but if they keep Pickens, that’s quite a physical duo for other teams to deal with.
Not sure if Pickens’ ego could handle it though
he’ll be fine
You don’t say an before the word historic
You do though…
You should.
An historic is correct.
What an hysterical post!
You can say both actually.
It’s more common to say a historic event but it was acceptable to say an historic event as far back as the 1920s 1940s
But yes typically a (blank) is the correct way to write when a word begins with a consonant instead of a vowel, but even then there’s exceptions
Like you’d typically a university not an university even though university starts with a vowel the fact it makes a yoo sound makes a university sound more grammatical correct
Also you’d typically say an hour has passed not a hour has passed cause the h is silent which makes the “our” sound, hence why an hour is the prefer grammatical choice.
wow learned more in this post than school
Wow, love we got Metcalf so we definitely need to get the qb situation settled asap.
Woohoo!
Holy snap they actually did it and homie got paid too!!!
Just wonder if this means Russ is brought back
I wonder what number he wears I doubt Pickens gives up 14. Maybe 11 or 8??
Or trade Pickens and make him someone else’s problem.
Maybe
Why? Now they have two big guns
He’s gone from a bad qb environment to another bad qb environment. He’ll be frustrated again by season end, just more paid to act like a punk
Love it!!!!
But who’s gonna throw to him?
Darnold or Rodgers.
Naw. I’m betting Russ
live in seattle, grew up in pit. always loved russ, only seahawk i liked. dont bring him back steelers.
Good move for Pittsburgh. Always liked DK coming out of college. Hes going to get paid and also play with Russ again I believe. Not a bad day for us NFL fans.
I said many times during the Aiyuk thing that he was not worth trading for but that Metcalf would be.
In a perfect world it would have cost a bit less, but OK.
They needed a guy like this very very very badly and got him.
Also, I bet the timing is not coincidental. They now have a WR1 to pitch to Fields or Darnold or whoever.
Uhh schefter says it’s 5 years 150 mil
1. Im a DK fan, but I don’t love the price. The second round PLUS the contract seems reckless to me.
2. Its nice to have a stud to pair with the knucklehead Pickens – but are they really banking all this on a run at Darnold? If they dont have a QB, whats the point?
Idk – I wanna appreciate the aggression but I see big opportunity for this to be a tad too reckless.
I want my Bills get upgrade at WR, but Im perfectly content to let another team do this trade.
I thought a second round selection was always in the realm of possibility, but I think the fact that your Bills might’ve been chasing the same target probably pushed Pittsburgh to do it.
Pittsburgh has enough talent on the team that I like the aggressiveness from them. The Quarterback position in Pittsburgh is, of course, a huge question mark. With Metcalf in the fold, I think it makes the job both easier and more desirable, though. Time will tell.
You speak is if there are a plethora of talented QBs to be had this offseason.
Isn’t that my entire point of trading for a WR though css?
Sorry, I was trying to reply to Appalachian Outlaw. They were saying all the Steelers need now is a QB.
Another wideout the Pats missed out on.
Too bad there’s no one to throw it to him
I always get sad when the season ends – but I love NFL FA period.
About this move because it goes against the grain that is this organization but worthless if there’s not a half decent QB to throw the ball
Patriots needed to do this, only way it’s excusable os if Metcalf said he wouldn’t sign an extension here
DK tough receiver belongs in AFC North. Will help Steelers compete with Ravens for division title. Is Russ still getting paid by Broncos? If so bring him back as starter and let Fields walk. Russ can still ball as long as o-line holds up and
Pickens grows up. Tomlin will straighten him out or unload him.
Now refrain from giving a 30 y/o undersized DE $40M and go win the AFC north
You have a point. Maybe they should sign a former Defensive Player of the Year and six time All-Pro to replace him.
WR is not a difference making position. It’s comical they get paid as such.
It’s a far greater difference making position than DE, and look what dumb Cleveland just paid Garrett.
Both of these takes are insane.
I’m going to vehemently disagree with you on that. Case in point, look at how Brown transformed the Eagles fortunes.
You have to have some guys that can catch the football and create offense.
Pittsburgh probably overpaid a little with the pick, but they did what they had to in order to get it done.
What the hell, Patriots?! You have the most cap space, the biggest need to sign a WR, a high 2nd rd pick to offer, and an inate inability to draft WRs yourself, so what gives? This gift was dropped in your lap and you blew it. Waiting on the “we were in on Metcalf” bs explanation.
Players have to want to go there. If he wouldn’t sign an extension, what are they going to do?
But now they get to trade for Pickens.
The only question is where is George Pickens going and how much they’re going to get for him. Steelers are done with him.
Does this mean they will bring back Russ considering Russ and Metcalfe played togther. Russ has been there a year and would have a head start over any other QB they bring in.
Just go sign Tyler Lockett already and put the band back together Lol
DK and Pickens account for too many flags. I think they trade Pickens.
The packer just let 2 number 1 go off the board! Time for a new Gm that want to win because with that core of receivers , it be one and done ! your 2nd round pic this year is Metcalf ! godie sits on his hand and plays with himself other get better! a second that a steel for a one and Adams u lose him too! Are you going to get us some players we need to get over the hp and on the play off? who going to throw the damm ball to him ARod?
Adams wasn’t coming back to GB. He was west coast bound the entire time having played college ball up at Fresno State
Guty is the worst, sick of all these number 4 WR’s the packers have. Get us a god damn #1
umm… who’s the RB?
L’Veon Bell will be making a comeback now that he’s realized he doesn’t have much of a future as a boxer or Dairy Queen employee 🙂
umm. whos the QB to throw to these wr’s?
Good riddance!
Bored. lol.
And you felt the need to share?
They should trade Pickens. Unless they plan to extend him (which I would doubt) move him now and get something and eliminate a headache.
Sign a guy like Slayton or whoever. Use their first two picks (including the one you get for Pickens now that you don’t have a 2nd) on the D line. Draft a RB in the 3rd or 4th.
Those saying to trade Pickens I think are forgetting that that is why they needed to add at WR to begin with. The only had 1 legitimate receiver prior to acquiring DK. Trading Pickens now would leave you with DK who is a slight upgrade to Pickens and then your number 2-4 receivers stay the same unless you draft someone which it is unlikely they step right in and produce the same way Pickens would.
Pickens with his attitude would certainly not yield the same return as DK, maybe a 3rd if lucky.
Coming into 2025 with DK and Pickens as your 1-2 options is a great pairing.
Pickens with his attitude is why everyone is saying he’s likely to be traded. This could work and help the Steelers significantly, but most of us think it’s unrealistic it will end well.
A slight upgrade?
Yes, slight. Pickens had a higher YPC and DK had more yards but also played more games. They both produce very similarly as far as numbers go.
I’m thinking they keep both. Why not? They’ve coddled Pickens all this time and now when they have a dynamic duo, they’re gonna dump him ?
That said, media is pumping Rodgers this morning for the Steelers. Seems like Fields wants to look elsewhere (don’t blame him) and interest in Russ has waned. If it’s between Rodgers and Darnold, I hope they go with Sam
Proof that stats don’t mean anything.
DK is the far superior WR. Period.
I would agree that he is better, but stating he is far superior without offering any sort of fact based logic doesn’t quite do it for me.
I will blend some of my own opinions with some facts to support my original “slight upgrade” comment.
Metcalf last year had Lockett and JSN to take off pressure from him to open the field, whereas Pickens had guys like Van Jefferson and had to create his own openings. Metcalf had Geno Smith passing him the ball who threw for 4300 yards and 70% completion percentage compared to Fields/Wilson combining for 3200 and 64% completion percentage.
Pickens accounted for over 28% of yards to Metcalf’s 23%. Pickens also slightly edged out Metcalf in YPC. Metcalf in more games played had 2 more TDs, but still not like we are talking a ton of difference here.
Lets broaden the focus to career averages. The big 4 categories being catches, yards, TDs, and catch %. We are looking at 77/1108/8/60.3 for DK, and 62/1006/4/59.4. DK gets a slight edge in each category.
15 catches, 102 yards, 4 TDs, and a 0.9% higher chance to catch a ball. Over 17 games that equates to 0.88 more catches per game, 6 more yards per game, and 0.23 more TDs per game.
Now what about these real numbers of actual production and not something such as “the eye test” or other non factual based arguments says “far superior”?
You said it. Dk had JSN and Lockett to take the pressure off him. and take yards from him. they are the same receiever. deep physical who are not good enough to be wr1 and too good for a wr2
Until he pouts and disrupts everything and then walks for nothing.
Two #1 WR’s is a luxury when your D line is that old. Get the pick. Plenty of FA WR2’s available.
Pickens is not a #1
All of the people saying this wouldn’t happen because he isn’t worth that return or that money flat out don’t know football but I’m sure it won’t stop them from talking this way again and again.
He isn’t worth 33 mil a year. He has the skill set of a number #1, but he hasn’t played like it
This deal will come back to bite the Steelers; their receivers usually turn into head cases.
Seahawk’s go to Steelers this coming season. Should be interesting to see DK matchup against the Seahawks’ CB’s.
Great trade for the Steelers. In an offseason where the WR market is barren, they get an under-utilized Terrell Owens clone in his prime for the cost of a late 2nd round pick.
If I were the Steelers I would sign Joe Flacco and spread their money around at every other position. Flacco at $5 million would get you just as much (if not more) than Danger’ Russ at $20 million.
If they want someone to just sling it all over the field they may as well sign Winston. He might throw thirty picks but he might also throw 40 tds.
flacco is one the most overrated qb’s ever. he sucks. plus he was a raven.
I never wore my DK jersey I had for the last 4 years… I knew a week ago I needed to sell it QUICK. I missed my chance.. ugh
Love the trade, hate the exension. bravo steelers, for making a move! and thanks for bringing steelers fans hope up about this offseason!! I can already tell this offseason will be one the best oat! Obv since kupp signed for half of Dk’s extension, kupp must suck, and boy I hope they do get flacco. if not, mason rudolph is a great qb1!! and lastly, thank you steelers, you have been so kind to give old suckers a place to play. Steelers aka pittsburghs number 1 retirement home!!! Yayayaya Here we go steelers!