The Seattle Seahawks look like a potential trade partner for the Detroit Lions to trade down in the draft, but would DK Metcalf be on the table? Should the Lions want him?
The Detroit Lions have mostly sat idle while the NFL offseason activity rages around them. Such is life with a calculated plan to build the roster, with draft capital that’s more important to that process than to surrender in a trade for a big-name player.
The Seattle Seahawks entered a new era by trading Russell Wilson, though with Pete Carroll still as head coach they won’t call it a rebuild. That has led to some speculation the top two pass catchers for Wilson in recent years, Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf, could be available in trade.
With Carroll’s remarks Seattle had “no intent” to trade Wilson in mind, he has said the team “will do everything we can” to get get an extension done with Metcalf. Metcalf is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and the wide receiver market has changed even if he is not quite in the same class as Davante Adams and Tyreek Hill.
NFL Rumors: Should the Lions consider a trade offer that includes DK Metcalf?
The Seahawks acquired the ninth overall pick in April’s draft from the Broncos in the Wilson trade. They could take a quarterback there, but they could also consider trying to trade up and getting ahead of Carolina at No. 6 would be an order to make sure they get the guy they want.
Mike Payton of Pride of Detroit has opined that Seattle is the best team for the Lions to trade down from second overall in the draft with, should they entertain it. He offered a trade proposal too.
"Seahawks get: Second pick and 181th pick (sixth round).Lions get: Ninth pick, 41st pick (second round) and DK Metcalf."
The Lions would still have a top-10 overall pick in this deal, while adding a pick in the second round (giving them three picks in a 10-pick stretch) and getting Metcalf.
Metcalf would join DJ Chark, Amon-Ra St. Brown, D’Andre Swift, T.J. Hockenson and Josh Reynolds to form a nice set of weapons for Jared Goff. And at just 24 years old (25 in December), Metcalf would become a long-term piece of the future in Detroit.
But that’s where it gets tricky. Even if Metcalf wouldn’t reset the top of the market in a new contract, $20 millon per year is not out of the question (Spotrac is currently tabbing his market value a little above that). How many years do you go on a multi-year deal? Do you pay him like a top-five receiver in the league?
With the No. 2 overall pick, the Lions are a spot teams who may want to trade up are certainly eyeing–likely with an eye on a quarterback. But the Lions could just take Malik Willis second overall if they like him enough, and not get cute with trading down or trying to take a different quarterback a little later.
In terms of dealing with Seattle in a trade-down scenario, getting Metcalf is a nice idea and easy for Detroit to practically require as part of the deal. But figure in having to pay him big on the back end, beyond his actual worth, and the Lions are better off staying at No. 2 if the Seahawks are their only viable option to trade down.