DK Metcalf was said to prefer a warm-weather destination. Where he wound up doesn't quite fit that bill, but the newest Pittsburgh Steelers receiver said Thursday that wish wasn't ever made in the first place.
Western Pennsylvania's conditions aren't ideal for a good part of the year. With ordinarily overcast skies, no one's ever mistaken the Steel City for being a vacation spot.
"Yeah, man, we never said none of that," Metcalf said during his introductory Steelers press conference. "Me and my team never said, 'Warm city, a contender.' None of that, man. We just took the trade request and moved forward with the teams that really showed interest. They showed interest from Day 1 and we just built on the relationship that we had from the first conversation."
Seattle Seahawks WR DK Metcalf in a game against the Washington Football Team at FedEx Field, Nov. 29, 2021. — All-Pro Reels Photography
With that now-dispelled rumor in mind, some speculated the Los Angeles Chargers could have been a possible landing spot. Rather than Metcalf, Bolts quarterback Justin Herbert wound up with free agent Mike Williams , who spent the first seven years of his career with that team. The Steelers acquired Williams via an in-season trade last season. He only had nine receptions for 132 yards and a touchdown in Pittsburgh . That score helped the Steelers down Washington on the road and improve their record to 7-2.
The Steelers will expect much more out of Metcalf. Especially considering the five-year, $150 million contract extension they gave him after acquiring him from Seattle.
As for the contender portion of Metcalf's "demands," the Steelers have been in a sort of purgatory for nearly a decade. Mike Tomlin's team hasn't won a playoff game since 2017, but under his stewardship, it hasn't plummeted far enough to draft early on.
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