Another week, another fumble for the polarizing, frustratingly talented Seahawks receiver.
The Seattle Seahawks were awful and deserved to lost 29-20 to the New York Giants, but you can still play poorly and come away with a win. We’ve seen many Seahawks teams, including elite ones, follow this script and get a W out of a bad performance.
One of the key moments of Sunday’s loss was DK Metcalf fumbling the ball right on the edge of New York’s red zone. Deonte Banks stripped him and Tyler Nubin, a rookie taken with the second-rounder the Seahawks gave the Giants in the Leonard Williams trade, was there for the recovery. It was a minimum 10-point swing given the Giants scored a touchdown after this.
It’s the second week in a row Metcalf has coughed it up and it’s led to a touchdown the other way.
I’m fully trusting CBS play-by-play man Andrew Catalon when he relayed to viewers that Metcalf how has lost eight fumbles in his career, the most of any wide receiver in the NFL since he entered the league. Considering Metcalf has fumbled nine times, one of which was this stupid let-up against the Dallas Cowboys in 2020, that’s a damning statistic. Virtually every receiver who has fumbled more than Metcalf since 2019 has had kick or punt return duties, so even a muffed punt will count as a fumble.
Between that Metcalf’s latest fumble sums up the duality of DK. He is extraordinarily talented and one of the best deep threats in the sport. His speed is freaky fast for his size. Each year he’s worked on improving aspects of his game, including high-pointing contested catches on the sideline and making more hands catches.
There’s also the Metcalf whose hands are still not remotely consistent enough to be considered among the elite at his position. He started the Giants game with a drop on the first play, and had two drops even through his otherwise strong game against the New England Patriots. Metcalf had no fumbles last year, but his drop rate was his worst since 2020. Ball security continuing to be an issue with him this long into his career is not acceptable.
Then there are the penalties. A ton of penalties. Metcalf has been (rightfully) criticized for some of his overly aggressive play and temperament, resulting in several personal foul penalties. No receiver has been flagged more than Metcalf since he entered the league, and he’s already committed five this season. None has been of the 15-yard variety, but he’s been dinged for three offensive pass interferences, a holding penalty that wiped out a Kenneth Walker touchdown, and another hold that erased a Zach Charbonnet first down that was two plays before the controversial OPI on Tyler Lockett against the Lions.
As a staunch defender of Metcalf, even coming off the back of him having the first ever instance of three straight 100-yard receiving games in franchise history, I have finally relented on whether or not he’s the type of player who should command another big contract extension from the Seahawks. When he’s great, he’s great, and he’s one of the most productive receivers in franchise history in less than six seasons. In an era where great wide receivers appear to be in the ultimate surplus in college, however, Metcalf has not been so amazing that he should be considered untouchable. If we’re going to continue to see mistakes overshadow his productivity, it’s 100 percent valid to ask if that justifies north of $30 million a year.
