Seattle Seahawks: Can D.K. Metcalf be a true No. 1 receiver?

We know about his upside, but does Seattle Seahawks rookie wide receiver D.K. Metcalf have enough to come in and immediately be the primary receiver in the Seahawks’ offense?

The Seattle Seahawks sitting back and snagging D.K. Metcalf with the final pick in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft was considered a major steal by most in the industry. Metcalf has all of the physical tools to become a star at the next level and the Seahawks have an obvious need at the wide receiver position. There is a lot to like about this pick.

Metcalf is a 6-foot-3, 228-pound receiver who looks like he is made out of granite. He struggled with injuries in college but was always a dynamic playmaker when on the field. Based on his size and obvious athleticism, Metcalf entered the draft process as an extremely intriguing talent, but he really blew up after his performance at the combine.

His blazing 4.33 40-yard dash was incredibly impressive for a man of his size. Metcalf ran the fifth-fastest 40-time at the combine, with the times faster than his being ran by players who are significantly smaller. He also showed off his explosive athleticism with his 40.5-inch vertical and 134-inch broad jump.

Everybody seemed to fall in love with Metcalf at the combine, seeing ridiculous upside with his incredible combination of size, speed and raw athleticism. That being said, his quickness scores left plenty to be desired.

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Metcalf ran a 7.38 in the three-cone drill, the third-worst time for any wide receiver at the 2019 combine. On top of that, his 4.5-second performance in the 20-yard shuttle was the fourth-worst time out of any receiver. Simply put, Metcalf tested out as a receiver who lacks quickness and change of direction ability at the combine. Overall his college tape was impressive, but this lack of short-area quickness also showed up on film.

Metcalf has the ability to become an absolute star at the next level. But if he can not change directions quickly, his upside is going to be limited. There is a lot to like about his game, but Metcalf is undoubtedly a risky prospect. His injury history and lack of quickness are why he slipped further in the draft than most expected.

The Seattle Seahawks are counting on Metcalf to make an immediate impact, and while I question whether he will be able to do so, early reports have been positive.

According to Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic (subscription required), Metcalf impressed at minicamp practices.

"“As (Tyler) Lockett and Shaquill Griffin have noted, Metcalf is already showing a veteran savvy with his ability to mix up his releases,” Dugar wrote. “For a guy listed at 6-foot-4, 229 pounds, it’s been amazing to see him be so shifty at the snap.”“He has the quick feet of a smaller guy,” head coach Pete Carroll said according to Dugar. “He’s shown us extraoridinary releases at times, just like a little guy would do. He doesn’t have any trouble doing anything we’re doing,” Carroll continued, “He looks like he’s done it before. The route changes that we’re doing, the adjustments, body control — he’s really been a marvelous comeptitor in camp. We’ve seen plays every day that look special.”"

I am not surprised that Metcalf has been impressive before the pads are on. He is a marvelous talent who is going to make some opposing defensive backs foolish at times. However, the quotes above that rave about his quickness are certainly eye-opening.

The numbers simply do not back this up, neither does his college tape. However, it is certainly possible that Metcalf has worked on this area of his game and found a way to add more short-area quickness to his repertoire. If this is the case, look out, because this guy is going to be a star.

Simply put, the Seattle Seahawks are going to need some unexpected production at the wide receiver position if they expect to have a good offense in 2019. The retirement of Doug Baldwin was obviously less than ideal and Metcalf was the only significant addition to the position that they made.

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When it comes down to it, the Seahawks are clearly counting on Metcalf to be a primary target for Russell Wilson. Can he step up and make the most out this opportunity? Only time will tell. One thing is for sure, he is going to be an extremely interesting player to watch.

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