PITTSBURGH — The Steelers have made a major splash in free agency, acquiring wide receiver DK Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks in a deal that includes a 2025 second-round draft pick. The team has also secured Metcalf with a lucrative five-year, $150 million extension, solidifying his position as one of the league’s premier wideouts.
In addition to the Metcalf acquisition, the Steelers and Seahawks will swap picks in the sixth and seventh rounds of the 2025 draft, setting up each team with an eye toward their future directions.
Metcalf, who’s now 27, was originally a second-round pick in the 2019 draft. He had made it known that he wanted out of Seattle just days before the trade was finalized, particularly as he entered the last year of a three-year, $72 million extension signed in 2022. Although he initially had an $18 million deal left, the Steelers moved quickly to ink him to a contract that averages $30 million per year—placing him in elite company among his peers and positioning him as one of the biggest contracts for a free agent in franchise history.
With Metcalf’s deal now in place, he joins a select group of wide receivers who command $30 million annually—a rare achievement indeed. Prior to this signing, the most the Steelers had ever committed to an outside free agent was linebacker Patrick Queen’s three-year, $41 million contract during the previous offseason.
This trade comes on the heels of the Seahawks parting ways with quarterback Geno Smith, which has led to a strategic rebuild for Seattle. They now possess five picks in the first three rounds of the 2025 draft, including a prime selection at No. 18, giving them valuable assets moving forward.
For the Steelers, Metcalf is the much-needed big-play receiver they have been pursuing, especially to complement 2022 second-round pick George Pickens. Last season, Metcalf recorded an average of 15.0 yards per reception and 66.1 yards per game, totaling 66 receptions and 992 yards, albeit with a dip in overall touchdowns to five—his lowest in a season. His production suffered after an MCL injury in Week 7, limiting him to averaging just under six targets per game in the latter half of the season.
Since the Seahawks drafted Metcalf with the final selection of the second round in 2019, he has consistently been a dominant force, averaging over 1,000 receiving yards and eight touchdowns per year. In contrast, Pickens, who emerged as the Steelers’ leading receiver last season, averaged 64.3 yards and 15.3 yards per catch, although his campaign was marred by injury with just three touchdowns across the season.
The Steelers are likely looking to extend Pickens with his rookie deal coming to an end, and general manager Omar Khan has already expressed enthusiasm for keeping him on the team. Khan stated recently, “I can tell you that he has a desire to be great. We have a desire for him to be great… but you know, we won’t discuss that publicly.”
Calvin Austin III was the next most productive wideout on last season’s roster, contributing with averages of 15.2 yards per reception, but fell short with only 548 yards and four touchdowns.
The Steelers’ hunt for a standout wide receiver isn’t new, having shown interest in 49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk last offseason—although Aiyuk opted for a lucrative deal to stay put. They also traded for Mike Williams from the Jets mid-season, only to see him make a minimal impact after a promising debut catch in a game-winning scenario against the Commanders.
While acquiring Metcalf certainly boosts the Steelers’ offensive capabilities, questions still loom over their quarterback situation for the 2025 season. With both Justin Fields and Russell Wilson potentially heading for free agency, the team is in a critical position. Fields has indicated a desire to explore the market, and with his past connections to Metcalf, the storyline could deepen. Khan emphasized that sorting out the quarterback position is a top priority. However, Metcalf’s rapid trade request has accelerated the Steelers’ efforts in shaping their roster for the upcoming season.
