Analyst Examines Potential Steelers Trade Package for DK Metcalf

The Pittsburgh Steelers are talking about multiple wide receivers and trying to add help to their room after drafting Roman Wilson in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. According to Benjamin Allbright, a Broncos insider, the Steelers have called about Brandon Aiyuk, Courtland Sutton, and DK Metcalf, but they have been rebuffed by the 49ers and Broncos, and a Metcalf deal will not be done until at least after June 1.

All three wide receivers would require significant draft capital, especially Aiyuk and Metcalf. The Steelers reportedly kicked the tires on San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel, but they couldn’t meet in the middle with San Fran on a trade.

John Buhler of FanSided threw out a wild trade scenario for DK Metcalf that has the Steelers giving up George Pickens, a 2025 first-round pick, a 2025 third-round pick, a 2026 second-round pick and a 2026 fourth-round pick.

Metcalf is a good, but I don’t think he’s worth that kind of draft capital. Trading Pickens also makes absolutely no sense. The Steelers wide receivers corps is already thin as it is.

“The reason to do this move if you are the Steelers is to get out of the frustrating 9-8 to 11-6 quagmire that head coach Mike Tomlin seems to find great comfort in,” Buhler wrote. “Pittsburgh could honestly challenge Baltimore, Cincinnati and Cleveland for divisional supremacy by dealing for a wide receiver of Metcalf’s caliber. His rapport with Wilson could help the Steelers get to a 12 or a 13-win ceiling or so.”

Reuniting Metcalf with Wilson is intriguing, but a 2025 first-round pick and a 2025 third-round pick would be a lot more doable. Aiyuk most likely go for a first-round pick and additional draft capital, as well. That’s just the going rate for top-flight receivers.

Overall, it seems like a desperate move for the Steelers.

“I only think the Steelers do this deal if they are hopelessly desperate. This move would indicate that investing in Wilson long-term is the way to go, as well as Justin Fields only being a backup for them. To me, this move is way too risky to pull off. Is there a ton of upside? Yes, but we could be on the precipice of the team’s worst finish since before Ben Roethlisberger even arrived,” Buhler wrote.

“Seattle should only do this trade if it Seahawks can take complete advantage of the Steelers in this.”

At this point, the Seahawks are a bit up against the cap, and Metcalf certainly jumps out as an excellent fit for the offense. From what he can do as a deep ball threat to the built-in chemistry with Russell Wilson, the boxes become easily checked. However, Metcalf is not even 27 years old, so it raises the question of why the Seahawks would even trade Metcalf.

If they need cap space so badly, I suppose they could, but it would have made sense to trade Tyler Lockett earlier in the offseason before they restructured his contract if that was the goal