D.K. Metcalf to Seattle

D.K. Metcalf to Seattle

    Coming into the draft this year, one of the standout storylines was the physique of Ole Miss wide receiver D.K. Metcalf. At 6’3’’, 228 lbs, Metcalf is built like a safety and runs a 4.3 40 yard dash. Many pundits in the draft world marked Metcalf as a first round talent, however, he slid to the Seattle Seahawks with the last pick of the 2nd round. Why the sudden drop? He was projected to be one of the top receivers off the board, instead, he ended up the ninth receiver taken. Let’s look at his skillset.

     Metcalf is an explosive deep threat, however, he struggles with route running and adjusting to the ball when making a catch. While he possesses immense strength from his built frame, he struggles to use his body to shield defenders from the ball. While being a relatively unpolished player, there is a ton of upside that the Seattle must have loved. He obviously has the size and top-end speed of an NFL receiver, and the route tree will take time to develop, however, I’m sure that will be ironed out with time.

    The biggest question mark about Metcalf is the neck injury he sustained during last season. As with any players with injury histories, there was a significant risk in drafting him, however, there’s no guarantee that his previous injury will factor into his future. In fact, many great receivers played after being injured in some big way, some even played through injury. Not to mention, the nature of the game has changed to greatly protect its star players.

    To summarize, D.K. Metcalf, the now Seattle Seahawk, could be a great receiver in this league for years to come. He has the ideal combination of size and speed but needs some refinement in his route running and agility in making quick cuts. His previous neck injury could be an issue, but honestly, he probably grew five sets of muscle tissue over it anyway. In my opinion, the Seahawks got a great player at pick 64.

-By: Nick Selko