NFL Rumors: Reasons Why Patriots Didn’t Trade For DK Metcalf

When DK Metcalf asked out of Seattle, the star wide receiver was expected to land with a contender who plays in a warm-weather city and has a great quarterback situation.

The Seahawks reportedly agreed to move the two-time Pro Bowl selection Sunday evening, but the winner of the Metcalf sweepstakes didn’t check any of those boxes.

Metcalf reportedly is bound for Pittsburgh, where the Steelers are coming off a terrible second half of the 2024 season and have nothing but question marks behind center. The 27-year-old is all-in on the Steel City, too, as he reportedly is set to sign a massive contract extension with the storied franchise.

The 2019 second-round pick surprisingly landing in Pittsburgh prompted a question in New England: Why weren’t the Patriots more involved in the Metcalf bidding? Boston Sports Journal’s Mike Giardi provided answers Sunday night.

“Here’s the sense I got speaking with a team source,” Giardi wrote. “They liked the player but didn’t love him, and while the AAV of the contract was what they expected, the Pats aren’t all that keen on surrendering draft capital. As important, the brass had questions about how Metcalf would fit into their locker room.”

In a vacuum, New England didn’t commit football malpractice by not going harder after Metcalf. Mike Vrabel seems to have a very clear vision for his team in 2025, and Metcalf apparently did not fit into it. And when you need to make such a significant commitment to acquire a player, you want to be unequivocally sure you want him in your building.

That said, the wide receiver market this offseason is borderline barren, and the Patriots desperately need to improve Drake Maye’s supporting cast. There still are a few moves New England could make to fulfill that objective, but time will tell if the Patriots regret not making a stronger push for Metcalf.