DK requests trade

[NorthHawk]

He’s not as bad as many other WRs with lesser talent. It comes with the territory it seems.

[River Dog]

DK's behavior has undermined his market value. There were warning signs of these tendencies coming out of college and they proved to be true.

Yeah, and he had his worst season statistically. The guy loafs, was directly responsible for two losses this season due to his lazy, sloppy route running. I'm ecstatic about the trade. There was no way anyone in their right mind would have given us a first rounder. Don't let the door hit ya where the Good Lord split ya, Metcalf!

[4XPIPS]

goodness... all the fun happens when I am away, I was freedom camping the north of the South Island, it was quite nice to be disconnected to the digital world for 14 days. Well well DK got traded, and as I had predicted two things were going to happen with him, either a trade or extension. Not upset about the trade, just wish we got more in return, but they way overpaid for him. So in the end we got something, and we don't have to pay $30 mil per year for a skill position.

[River Dog]

goodness... all the fun happens when I am away, I was freedom camping the north of the South Island, it was quite nice to be disconnected to the digital world for 14 days. Well well DK got traded, and as I had predicted two things were going to happen with him, either a trade or extension. Not upset about the trade, just wish we got more in return, but they way overpaid for him. So in the end we got something, and we don't have to pay $30 mil per year for a skill position.

I was thinking the same thing. Although I was never off grid for very long, I was in your neck of the woods visiting Australia when all the hubub was going on, with Geno being traded to the Raiders on the 7th and Metcalf to the Steelers on the 9th.

IMO we got as good as we were going to get with this trade. Metcalf's stock dropped a lot this season.

[c_hawkbob]

As usual this conversation has gone way overboard on what a poor receiver DK was, led of course by Riv, who seems to have a never ending axe to grind with the guy.

First, as to his value; DK wouldn't have gotten the contract he landed with the Steelers if he were dog food. And we wouldn't have offered him the same contract if we didn't see in him the same thing they did. He never was Largent or Lockett as far as his precise rout running but he still can take the top off a defense as well as anyone in the NFL.

Second as to his attitude, he didn't complain at all when we went to using him as the double and triple team draw in the 4 by 1 formation to spring JSN and Lockett and our TE's for all the yards and all the credit, but I have no doubt that's what propelled him to ask for a trade this offseason. Football during the season and business during the offseason, isn't that how all prefer it to be?

For myself I'm sad to see him go, he was one of my favorites, and still will be even though I'll never be able to root for his new team. I wish him luck.

I'm also happy we landed Kupp, who I don't see as a replacement for DK but think he'll go a long way towards lessening the loss of Lockett. I don't think our WR's are the strength they were last year, but we're not destitute in the WR room either.

[Stream Hawk]

We have a new offense this year. So receivers inherently should not be the strength. However, there is still the draft. We could possibly land a future star wr there.

[4XPIPS]

As usual this conversation has gone way overboard on what a poor receiver DK was, led of course by Riv, who seems to have a never ending axe to grind with the guy.

First, as to his value; DK wouldn't have gotten the contract he landed with the Steelers if he were dog food. And we wouldn't have offered him the same contract if we didn't see in him the same thing they did. He never was Largent or Lockett as far as his precise rout running but he still can take the top off a defense as well as anyone in the NFL.

Second as to his attitude, he didn't complain at all when we went to using him as the double and triple team draw in the 4 by 1 formation to spring JSN and Lockett and our TE's for all the yards and all the credit, but I have no doubt that's what propelled him to ask for a trade this offseason. Football during the season and business during the offseason, isn't that how all prefer it to be?

For myself I'm sad to see him go, he was one of my favorites, and still will be even though I'll never be able to root for his new team. I wish him luck.

I'm also happy we landed Kupp, who I don't see as a replacement for DK but think he'll go a long way towards lessening the loss of Lockett. I don't think our WR's are the strength they were last year, but we're not destitute in the WR room either.

I won't split hairs on the perspective of DK, but I will still always be a fan of him. I was there live at the Cards' game when he ran down Baker, and to see the home crowd going absolutely nuts over the INT at the goal line and to see Baker take off on a straight line run and you can feel the home crowd rumbling loud, and then about the 45 yard line is when the crowd started to hold their breath and wonder "is he going to catch him?" and then you see DK close in on him yard after yard, and you can slowly feel and hear the crowd simmer down, and then and eruption from the traveling Hawk fan's as DK takes him down, and you just felt this massive gut punch in the air as the home crowd all felt this was a for certain "pick 6." I literally lost my voice that moment cheering so loud as DK showed the entire world what "never give up means." I lived that moment live, and I will never forget it. If he were to ever be inducted in the hall of fame, that single play will be played in one of his top highlights.

I certainly wanted DK to stay, and hopefully they worked out an extension, but it didn't happen. I never hated DK, but I just expected more from him at times, the penalty mistakes, the mishandling of the football at times killed critical drives. Obviously he is human and has emotions. I will go on record and say I was hoping we kept him, but the is the NFL and we march on.

[River Dog]

As usual this conversation has gone way overboard on what a poor receiver DK was, led of course by Riv, who seems to have a never ending axe to grind with the guy.

First, as to his value; DK wouldn't have gotten the contract he landed with the Steelers if he were dog food. And we wouldn't have offered him the same contract if we didn't see in him the same thing they did. He never was Largent or Lockett as far as his precise rout running but he still can take the top off a defense as well as anyone in the NFL.

No one said that Metcalf was "dog food", and certainly not me. My position was, and still is, that he's not a top 10 receiver worth market setting money. Given that there are 64 starting WR's in this league, saying that he's not top 10 isn't derogatory. It means that he could start for damn near any team.

The other part of that equation is that I have made it very well known for a number of years that I think wide receivers in general are overrated, that they're a dime a dozen, yada yada yada. Of course, I have had a "never ending axe to grind" with him due to the position he plays.

Second as to his attitude, he didn't complain at all when we went to using him as the double and triple team draw in the 4 by 1 formation to spring JSN and Lockett and our TE's for all the yards and all the credit, but I have no doubt that's what propelled him to ask for a trade this offseason. Football during the season and business during the offseason, isn't that how all prefer it to be?

His attitude is highly debatable, impossible for anyone to quantify. But whether it was his fault or Geno's, those two didn't gel. When things didn't go right, they'd come off the field and go to opposite sides of the bench instead of talking it over. It clearly wasn't working, and IMO that's one of the big reasons Metcalf wanted out. I also think he sensed that he wasn't going to get the big payday he was hoping for, at least not from us.

For myself I'm sad to see him go, he was one of my favorites, and still will be even though I'll never be able to root for his new team. I wish him luck.

I'm also happy we landed Kupp, who I don't see as a replacement for DK but think he'll go a long way towards lessening the loss of Lockett. I don't think our WR's are the strength they were last year, but we're not destitute in the WR room either.

Yeah, Kupp and Metcalf are two completely different types of receivers. And yes, we are going to miss certain parts of Metcalf's game, like his ability to stretch the field and command the attention of the defense. But given that we got a 2nd rounder for him and freed up a ton of cap space, I think it's a net plus.

We still have the draft to go through, but if MVS (is that what we're going to call him?) can regain the form he had with the Chiefs and if Kupp can stay healthy (two big 'ifs'), our WR room has a chance to equal or better what we've had in the recent past.

[4XPIPS]

Well this brings some light to how the veteran receivers felt about Grubb. I guess a fresh start for all isn't a bad thing.

https://www.fieldgulls.com/2025/3/20/24 ... er-lockett

[Aseahawkfan]

No one said that Metcalf was "dog food", and certainly not me. My position was, and still is, that he's not a top 10 receiver worth market setting money. Given that there are 64 starting WR's in this league, saying that he's not top 10 isn't derogatory. It means that he could start for damn near any team.

The other part of that equation is that I have made it very well known for a number of years that I think wide receivers in general are overrated, that they're a dime a dozen, yada yada yada. Of course, I have had a "never ending axe to grind" with him due to the position he plays.

You way oversold and continue to oversell DK's downside. DK was a homerun hitting receiver with Prime Russ who was averaging 10 to 12 TD seasons. He's not a possession receiver. He wasn't drafted to be. He was drafted to be a take the top off receiver who was dangerous in the red zone. That's exactly what he was. But that type of receiver doesn't mean much if you don't have the QB to take advantage of it. Geno wasn't that type of QB.

DK was wasted talent on a team with a middling QB who if he throws past 10 yards ramps up his interceptions. I'm glad to get the pick we got for DK, but think he was worth more.

Then again very few teams have QBs with the arm talent to use DK well. Most QBs are dink and dunkers hoping the team can win keeping turnovers down and playing good defense. You don't need a Corvette receiver for that. You're better off with your Toyota Corolla steady, reliable receivers for that type offense to go with your Toyota Corolla QBs who keep the dink and dunk offense going while keeping turnovers reasonable.

[River Dog]

Then again very few teams have QBs with the arm talent to use DK well. Most QBs are dink and dunkers hoping the team can win keeping turnovers down and playing good defense. You don't need a Corvette receiver for that. You're better off with your Toyota Corolla steady, reliable receivers for that type offense to go with your Toyota Corolla QBs who keep the dink and dunk offense going while keeping turnovers reasonable.

Which is one of the reasons why I devalued him. He was not a versatile receiver who could be inserted into a variety of offenses and be fully utilized. He couldn't be utilized on jet sweeps or bubble screens, for example. You have to have a quarterback, like Russell, who could throw a good deep ball, and Russell throws one of the prettiest moon balls in the league.

[Aseahawkfan]

Which is one of the reasons why I devalued him. He was not a versatile receiver who could be inserted into a variety of offenses and be fully utilized. He couldn't be utilized on jet sweeps or bubble screens, for example. You have to have a quarterback, like Russell, who could throw a good deep ball, and Russell throws one of the prettiest moon balls in the league.

On that we agree. DK is not maximized as a possession receiver. You waste one of his best talents. I don't believe in versatile receivers myself. Tyler, JSN, and now Kupp can't do what DK does. They are possession receivers and can't don't have blow the doors off speed to do what DK does. Its' easier for DK to do what they do then for them to do what DK can do, even though you're wasting his talent having him do possession work as receivers like DK are rare and possession receivers are available every draft.

[NorthHawk]

According to this article DK has made previous trade requests. Kudos to be he and the team for keeping it under wraps.

https://www.profootballrumors.com/2025/ ... triots-fit

[River Dog]

According to this article DK has made previous trade requests. Kudos to be he and the team for keeping it under wraps.

https://www.profootballrumors.com/2025/ ... triots-fit

He may not have made his request public, but his body language sure indicated that he wasn't happy here. And you have to wonder if his attitude didn't affect his play.

Anyhow, I'm glad it's over. He was a brilliant selection, perhaps the best producing draft pick that JS has made in the past 5-6 years. But it was time for us and him to move on.

[Spohawk5092]

large article in my paper today mentioned the DK issues. Guess he had a heated argument with former OC Grubb at one point, so they didn't get along. He said that he felt like an outsider here as well. Good bye and good riddance. Still has that temper issue obviously.

[NorthHawk]

I don't think he's that bad as WRs go. As a group there seem to be a lot more Prima Donna's at WR and his pouting is small potatoes compared to others we've seen in the NFL in the past.

[River Dog]

I don't think he's that bad as WRs go. As a group there seem to be a lot more Prima Donna's at WR and his pouting is small potatoes compared to others we've seen in the NFL in the past.

Boy, ain't that the truth! TO, Keyshawn Johnson, Ocho Cinco...it seems to go with the territory.

[Aseahawkfan]

I sympathize with DK. I would hate being on a team where my talents were wasted and I could not reach my potential and there was nothing I could do about it. It would irritate me. You're this 6'4' inch speed demon and you gotta play dink and dunk ball on a team going nowhere with a backup QB as your QB because the All Pro you were looking forward to play with fell off hard and the high energy coach was cooked. That would be super frustrating.

That is the life of an athlete who can't pick where they go.

[c_hawkbob]

I sympathize with DK. I would hate being on a team where my talents were wasted and I could not reach my potential and there was nothing I could do about it. It would irritate me. You're this 6'4' inch speed demon and you gotta play dink and dunk ball on a team going nowhere with a backup QB as your QB because the All Pro you were looking forward to play with fell off hard and the high energy coach was cooked. That would be super frustrating.

That is the life of an athlete who can't pick where they go.

I agree with this, and for the most part he was pretty professional in how he handled it.