ESPN’s latest poll of coaches, scouts and executives offered a sharp split in how the league views Seattle’s receiver room now versus then.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba came out strong, landing third among wide receivers behind only Ja’Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals and Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings. Puka Nacua of the Los Angeles Rams checked in fourth, while another Rams receiver, Davante Adams, was listed 10th.
The surprise on the other end was DK Metcalf. The former Seahawks wideout, now with the Pittsburgh Steelers, didn’t crack the top 10 and didn’t even land an honorable mention. He was lumped into the group “receiving votes,” a notable drop for a player who was still being talked about like a superstar just a year ago.
That’s a different outcome from the 2025 version of the same poll, when Metcalf at least showed up among the honorable mentions. But the bigger story in Seattle circles was always the preseason trade that sent both Metcalf and Geno Smith out the door.
At the time, the Seahawks were widely doubted. Sam Darnold was expected by many to slide after his 2024 run with the Vikings, and the idea was that Seattle would have no real threat to stress defenses without Metcalf on the outside.
Instead, Smith-Njigba took off. He led the NFL with 1,793 receiving yards and was named Offensive Player of the Year. Seattle also won the Super Bowl, with the team’s culture described as much improved after moving on from Metcalf and Smith.
Metcalf’s first season in Pittsburgh did not come close to matching that level of impact. He was suspended for two games late in the year after striking a fan during a game, and the source material says he could have been banned for longer. On the field, he finished with a career-low 850 receiving yards, the second-lowest catch total of his career at 59, and six touchdown receptions, which also marked the second-lowest total in his seven seasons.
For Seattle, the poll served as another reminder that the move away from Metcalf opened the door for Smith-Njigba to become a true centerpiece. For Metcalf, it was a blunt league-wide reality check.
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For Seattle, the bigger takeaway is how rare it is to have this kind of overlap at one position. Love gives the unit a proven centerpiece, Emmanwori brings the kind of range that can change how opponents attack, and Okada adds the kind of depth every contender needs when injuries and matchups start to stack up. The Seahawks have also kept an eye on the future with Bud Clark, another sign that this is a room they want to keep stocked, even as the league keeps taking notice of what they already have. [Read more 🡒]