DK Metcalf’s move to Pittsburgh was supposed to be a splash. A fresh start with a Hall of Fame-caliber quarterback in Aaron Rodgers, a big-money contract, and the chance to be the focal point of a new offense.
And to be fair, the early returns looked promising. But as we head into December, the shine has worn off, and the Steelers are left wondering if they’ve truly maximized the potential of one of the league’s most physically gifted receivers.
Let’s rewind for a moment. Metcalf opened his Steelers career with a bang-four catches for 83 yards in his debut against the Jets, then followed that up with a four-game touchdown streak that included a score against his former team, the Seahawks.
He torched the Vikings for 126 yards in a game that hinted at what this partnership with Rodgers could be. But since then?
The production has hit a wall.
Over his last five games, Metcalf has totaled just 18 catches for 144 yards. That’s an average of 28.8 yards per game.
No receiving touchdowns. Just one rushing score.
For a player making $33 million per year and expected to be a top-tier WR1, that’s not going to cut it.
Here’s the breakdown:
- 2 catches for 6 yards vs. Colts
- 3 catches for 35 yards vs. Chargers
- 5 catches for 49 yards vs. Bengals
- 5 catches for 22 yards (plus 12 rushing yards and a TD) vs. Bears
- 3 catches for 32 yards vs. Bills
That’s not just a cold streak-it’s a full-on freeze. And when you zoom out, the season totals paint a picture of underachievement: 45 receptions, 605 yards, 5 receiving touchdowns, and 1 rushing TD.
Solid numbers for a WR2. Not for a guy who’s supposed to be the centerpiece of your passing attack.
To put it in perspective, Metcalf had fewer receiving yards in all of November than Jaxon Smith-Njigba had in one game against the Titans. He had fewer yards than Tyler Lockett, who didn’t even record a catch in his first game with the Raiders. That’s where things stand right now.
And it’s not just the raw numbers. Metcalf is on pace for career lows in several key areas: receiving yards, yards per target, and receptions per game.
His average depth of target is trending toward the shortest of his career. He’s not cracking the top 15 in any major statistical category.
The only places where he’s outperforming his Seattle days? Yards after catch (a career-best 7.5) and first-down conversion rate (75%, best since 2020).
But those silver linings are hard to fully appreciate when the rest of the picture looks so bleak.
Then there’s the penalty issue. That’s one part of Metcalf’s game that hasn’t changed with the uniform.
He’s already matched his career high with eight penalties this season, including three offensive pass interference calls. The same frustrations that followed him in Seattle-emotional outbursts, drive-killing flags-are still showing up in Pittsburgh.
Now, let’s be clear: this isn’t all on Metcalf. The Steelers offense as a whole has been underwhelming.
George Pickens was shipped off to Dallas, where he’s thriving with Dak Prescott. Calvin Austin III has stepped into the WR2 role but has just 26 catches for 278 yards and two scores.
That’s not exactly drawing coverage away from Metcalf.
And then there’s the quarterback situation. Rodgers is 42, banged up, and clearly not the same player he once was.
Mason Rudolph hasn’t offered much relief either. In fact, neither QB has completed a pass of 20+ air yards in the last five games.
That’s a major problem when your top receiver is a deep-ball specialist. If you can’t push the ball downfield, you’re not going to unlock what Metcalf does best.
This all comes back to fit. Metcalf wanted out of Seattle, and the Steelers stepped up with a second-round pick and a massive contract.
But now, it’s fair to ask whether Pittsburgh was the right landing spot. The offense hasn’t been tailored to his strengths, and the quarterback play hasn’t helped.
Meanwhile, back in Seattle, the Seahawks offense has found new life with Jaxon Smith-Njigba stepping into a starring role. It’s not hard to imagine how different things might look if Metcalf had stayed.
Of course, there’s still time to turn things around. There are five games left in the regular season.
A late surge could change the narrative. But right now, the numbers don’t lie.
Metcalf is performing like a mid-tier receiver in an offense that can’t stretch the field, and the Steelers are paying him like a superstar.
Long-term, this trade may still work out for Pittsburgh. But in the short term, it’s hard to argue that they’ve gotten anything close to elite production from their $132 million investment.