Following up on today’s earlier news that veteran wide receiver D.K. Metcalf had requested a trade from the Seahawks, a few teams have been established as likely possible destinations for the 27-year-old. Most notably, Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times has noted some connections to the Chargers. 
Metcalf has been in Seattle since 2019. A year after Metcalf was drafted in the second round out of Ole Miss, Sanjay Lal came on staff with the Seahawks as a senior offensive assistant after stints as a wide receivers coach with the Raiders, Jets, Bills, Colts, and Cowboys from 2009-2019. After only a year in that role with Seattle, Lal spent a season as wide receivers coach in Jacksonville before returning to the Seahawks as passing game coordinator & wide receivers coach, a role he held for two seasons. Last year, Lal was hired by Jim Harbaugh to the Chargers’ staff as wide receivers coach over a group devoid of veterans.
Another writer at The Seattle Times, Adam Jude, had done a deep dive back in 2022 concerning the close relationship between Metcalf and Lal. The piece detailed how Metcalf trusted Lal to assist him in his quest to become the league’s best receiver. Condotta adds that Metcalf has spent recent offseasons in Los Angeles. He’s clearly familiar and comfortable with the area and knows a friendly face in Los Angeles’ position room.
On the Chargers’ side of things, Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports mentioned that Los Angeles was “the one team that quietly but aggressively pursued (Metcalf) in trade talks (last year)…only to be rebuffed by Seattle.” Although rookie second-round receiver Ladd McConkey put forth a strong 1,149-yard, seven-touchdown season and 2023 first-rounder Quentin Johnston delivered a much-improved sophomore campaign, the room was absent a veteran playmaker. Though offensive coordinator Greg Roman‘s offense tends to be run-heavy, the Chargers’ wide receiving corps would be much more well-rounded with a depth chart of Metcalf, McConkey, and Johnston.
Ben Volin of the Boston Globe threw the Bills into the mix, as well, though he didn’t seem to be reporting off of any sort of intel. Buffalo could certainly use the wide receiver help as they are only set to return Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman with Amari Cooper and Mack Hollins‘ contracts expiring. Unfortunately, the team currently ranks 30th in the NFL in cap space, per OvertheCap.com, so taking on any of Metcalf’s $31.88MM cap hit in 2025 would be tough to do without an immediate extension or restructuring to relieve cap space.
That could be possible, though, as, according to ESPN’s Brady Henderson, Metcalf is seeking a new deal as he heads into the final season of his current three-year, $72MM extension. Additionally, Metcalf’s stated desire to play for a contender makes Buffalo a tantalizing destination.
Despite mutual interest between Metcalf and either party, the decision will ultimately land on the Seahawks. It’s never great to hold a player hostage, but they’re set to eat $21MM of dead money if they cut or trade him with a pre-June 1 designation. A post-June 1 designation only slightly improves the situation as that dead money figure reduces to $13.88MM. Regardless, if the team can’t reach an extension agreement to keep him in Seattle long-term, it could be more beneficial to get some value back in a trade rather than watch him walk and get nothing in return a year from now. For the moment, NFL reporter Josina Anderson is reporting that there is a team willing to give up a third-round pick for Metcalf.