NFL expert sees Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf being traded to mediocre team

The Seattle Seahawks are not only generally a team in transition in 2024, but positionally the wide receiver group is changing as well. There is a decent chance that Tyler Lockett is no longer with the team in 2025, and not because he is bad. He is simply extremely expensive and Seattle could save over $20 million by releasing the veteran.

Plus, Jaxon Smith-Njigba appears to be becoming Seattle's second receiver option. Lockett is still good, but he will likely not be productive - more specifically, he will not have the opportunity to be productive - enough to merit the money Seattle is on the books for giving him. This means Seattle will probably need to find a WR3 in the draft or in free agency.

The above is pointed out to show the flaw in NFL expert Albert Breer's logic about his thinking that DK Metcalf could be traded next offseason. Breer works for Sports Illustrated and recently told NBC Sports Boston that Metcalf could end up playing for the New England Patriots. The move makes sense for New England, but not Seattle. One has to keep that in mind.

The presumptive thought for Breer is likely that the Seahawks send Metcalf to the Patriots and New England sends their first-round draft pick to Seattle. Otherwise, the trade is completely illogical. General manager John Schneider is not going to trade Seattle's most explosive receiver for a second-round choice, surely.

Plus, losing Metcalf and, likely, Lockett means the Seahawks have decimated their receiving corps. It is not like the tight ends are going to be all that involved in the passing game. Seattle needs to keep Metcalf because his ability to get deep down the field scares teams into having to pre-game for him. That allows JSN to get more open as teams are not scheming for him.

Breer's argument toward trading Metcalf is that he is expensive next season, and probably will be more expensive after that. He compared Metcalf to Washington Commanders receiver Terry McLaurin as McLaurin is also a free agent after 2025, but has a cap hit of a bit over $23 million in 2025.

Breer said, "DK Metcalf could be a little bit of a different story. They have other answers at receiver on that roster with Tyler Lockett, Jaxon Smith-Njigba now emerging. So Metcalf could be an interesting name."

Again, the flaw in that guess is that Lockett will still be around next season, and even beyond that. He will be 33 years old early in the 2025 season, but Metcalf will only be 26. If the question for the Seahawks is whether to keep Lockett or Metcalf, Metcalf has to be the answer.