With a second-round decide invested and $150 million due to DK Metcalf over the subsequent 5 seasons, the Pittsburgh Steelers want him to be among the many league’s finest. In accordance with Professional Soccer Focus, each Metcalf and the Steelers have a protracted option to go to make {that a} actuality.
Trevor Sikkema and Dalton Wasserman teamed as much as place the high 32 NFL receivers into tiers and rank them in numerical order. Metcalf landed towards the underside of Tier 4 at No. 23 general.
They didn’t have lots to say about Metcalf particularly, however they did say Tier 4 will get into “slightly extra uncertainty” and extra projections for gamers on this listing. Guys like Chris Godwin and Brandon Aiyuk are on this tier (above Metcalf) regardless of coming off season-ending accidents in 2024.
They did appear to take every participant’s scenario into consideration, so it’s attainable they’re factoring within the Steelers’ uncertainty at quarterback. Aaron Rodgers primarily produced two 1,000-yard receivers final 12 months. Even at 41 years previous, he might help good receivers shine in the proper offensive system.
Even with the Steelers’ struggling offense in 2024, George Pickens put up 850 yards and three TDs over the primary 12 video games earlier than an damage derailed his season. He was on tempo for a top-10 season on the WR place. Arthur Smith’s offense is able to supporting no less than one productive receiver.
Pickens didn’t even make the reduce for the highest 32 on this listing, so no less than the PFF analysts view Metcalf as an improve over what the Steelers beforehand had.
As for Metcalf’s current monitor report, he was twenty second amongst receivers final season in yards with 992 in 15 video games performed. The final time he was within the high 10 was in 2020 with Russell Wilson as his quarterback when he was sixth with 1,303 yards and 10 TDs.
On a extra constructive notice, his TD manufacturing has outpaced his whole yardage manufacturing during the last a number of seasons. Since he entered the league in 2019, Metcalf has the fifth-most receiving TDs amongst WRs with 48, solely behind Mike Evans, Davante Adams, Tyreek Hill and A.J. Brown.
Smith managed to get some productive seasons out of Brown early in his profession with the Tennessee Titans with 2,126 yards and 19 TDs in 30 video games performed over his first two seasons within the league.
If Rodgers indicators, Metcalf ought to simply outperform his No. 23 rating on this listing. The Steelers are relying on it with Metcalf making the fourth-highest WR wage within the NFL.
