Is DK Metcalf the Target for Steelers on Trade Market?

Mike Klis, Denver’s hallmark for sourced reporting, says that Sutton is not going anywhere and that the Broncos expect to keep him around. Meanwhile, the 49ers’ general manager, John Lynch, has shut down all Aiyuk speculation, and it seems one will not happen. Then, Metcalf has not been totally ruled out, but it seems unlikely the team will be able to acquire him given his large dead cap hit, and the overall lack of benefit for the Seahawks.

The Steelers have been in the market for a wide receiver since trading Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers in March. They’ve struck out on free agents Mike Williams and Tyler Boyd, missing on Williams, who signed with the Jets, and reaching a negotiating impasse with Boyd. The Steelers have Aiyuk, who the 49ers insist they are not trading.

The Steelers seem bent on landing veteran wide receiver help, with the first move likely being Wilson, and then a possible trade to round out the room. However, a trade has not yet materialized, and they may have to be patient. But they can not wait too long to add someone, and they may have to pivot to the free agent market at some point.

Speaking at the conclusion of the third day of the draft on Saturday, Omar Khan said that the team is in place to make a move to add to the position if it finds the right one, thanks to their recent restructuring of Alex Highsmith’s contract.

“Yeah, we’ll see,” Khan said. “I’ve said it before. If there’s ever an opportunity to improve the team, we’re going to look at it, and if makes sense, we’re gonna go after it. We restructured Alex’s deal. It puts us in a position to be flexible with some things if there’s an opportunity to do something.”

Over the last two offseasons, the Steelers have signed and/or traded for linebacker Kwon Alexander, tackle Dylan Cook, tackle Jesse Davis, safety Terrell Edmunds, outside linebacker Marcus Golden, safety Damontae Kazee, defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi and cornerback Chandon Sullivan between the end of the draft and the start of the preseason.

So, who is the ideal target? 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. Still, if he is somewhat realistic, the Steelers should be looking to acquire Metcalf, who would round out the wide receiver corps with Pickens and Wilson extremely well.