Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver D.K. Metcalf has been hit with a rough take from a former Steelers star.
Last offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers acquired wide receiver D.K. Metcalf in a blockbuster trade with the Seattle Seahawks, sending a second-round draft pick to the Seahawks in return.
At the time, Metcalf was expected to solidify the Steelers' receiving corps alongside of George Pickens, but Pittsburgh dealt Pickens shortly thereafter.
That left Metcalf and not a whole lot else in the Steelers' wide receiver room, which put the team in a rather difficult spot heading into 2025.
It didn't help that Metcalf had one of the least productive campaigns of his career, catching 59 passes for 850 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games.
Metcalf's underwhelming showing during his debut season in Steel City now has some wondering if he is truly a long-term answer for the squad, and former Steelers cornerback Joe Haden isn't even sure that the 28-year-old is a No. 1 receiver.
During a recent episode of Haden's Deebo & Joe podcast alongside of legendary Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison, Haden said that he doesn't really think Michael Pittman Jr. would be an answer to the Steelers' receiver woes because it would still leave them without a genuine No. 1.
Pittsburgh Steelers receiver D.K. Metcalf. Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images."[Pittman] is not a real No. 1 to me. Really really good receiver, I love him as a No. 2, but I think that's two No. 2s that we got," Haden said. "I feel like DK is a No. 2. A strong No. 2."
That's a pretty brutal assessment for a wide out in Metcalf who bagged a four-year, $132 million contract extension from Pittsburgh upon being acquired last spring.
Metcalf was originally selected by Seattle in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft and enjoyed a very successful run with the Seahawks, making a couple of Pro Bowls while posting three 1,000-yard campaigns.
The Ole Miss product topped out at 1,303 yards and 10 touchdowns during his second season back in 2020.
There in no question that Metcalf is immensely talented, and on the right day, he can absolutely be a No. 1 receiver. But he just isn't consistent enough.
The Steelers definitely need to go out and get some wide receiver help this offseason, whether that comes via free agency, trade or the NFL Draft.
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