NEWSLETTER
One year after pulling the plug on a Bears-Seahawks Russell Wilson blockbuster trade, Pete Carroll’s football club in Seattle is going to look significantly different.
Trading Russell Wilson in a deal for two first-round picks, two second-rounders, a fifth-rounder, QB Drew Lock, TE Noah Fait, and DL Shelby Harris will do wonders in shaping a franchise’s perspective. Not just for where it is right now, but where in which direction it is going moving forward.
In other words, if the Seahawks are blowing it up, does that make others available?
More specifically, from a Bears perspective, are receivers D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett available?
And if so, are you paying attention Ryan Poles?
D.K. Metcalf is a Long Shot, But…
… Denver acquiring Wilson in a trade would’ve been given long odds at sunrise. But things can (and did) change rapidly.
Metcalf, 24, is a stud receiver. He has put up at least 900 yards in each of his three seasons as a pro, topping out with a 1,303-yard season and Pro Bowl appearance in 2020. In each of the last two seasons, Metcalf has put up 10+ touchdowns. Moreover, Metcalf has put up more touchdowns in each season as a pro. Because after finding pay dirt seven times as a rookie in 2019, Metcalf has since followed with a 10-score season in 2020, and 12 more touchdowns in 2021.
Long story, short: It would be a dream to team Metcalf with Justin Fields. And because Metcalf is set to enter the final year of his rookie deal, he figures to be in line for a multi-year mega-extension, and might not sign off on sticking around for a rebuild. Maybe this is where a team steps in with a deal that knocks Seattle off its feet.
A Tyler Lockett Trade Makes More Sense (But There’s a Catch)
Online reporter Evan Massey hears the Seahawks are open for business after dealing Wilson to the Broncos. And if that proves to be the case, then perhaps whipping up a deal for Lockett is a more sensible trade target.
Where Metcalf is younger (24) and still has one year left on his rookie deal, Lockett is older (29) and has a contract the Seahawks might be looking to get off the books. Back in April 2021, Seattle and Lockett came to terms with a four-year deal that included $37 million n guarantees and could be worth up to $69 million. Nice deal, to be sure. But one that might not make sense for the Seahawks if they are indeed tearing it down.
Trading for Lockett will come with some notable hurdles. Firstly, the Seahawks can’t pull the trigger without damaging their cap situation until after June 1. According to OverTheCap.com’s calculations, a post-June 1 trade for Lockett would come with an annual dead-money hit of $7.05 million in each of the next four years. And if designated as a post-June 1 deal, it would create $32 million in cap space for this season. Otherwise, trading Lockett right now would come at the cost of the Seahawks *LOSING* $18.15 million in cap room and come with a $28.2 million dead money hit. A double dunk of unfortunate pricing.
In the End…
Every offseason presents new and unique opportunities for team building. Every year, an unforeseen options present themselves. And every offseason, smart and competitive teams pounce on them when possible. Fortune favors the bold.
Being opportunistic comes with a heckuva risk-reward calculator. One that we have no idea how it operates when it comes to Bears first-year GM Ryan Poles. But as a fan, I am very much into any and ALL possible pass-catcher possibilities. Chicago’s top priority this offseason should be doing everything it can to build an offense around Justin Fields. These Bears need to beef up that offense with playmakers, while allowing a defensive-leaning head coach to scheme his way to a competitive unit on the other side of the ball. So, with that in mind, we’ll continue to keep tabs on any possibility that falls into our laps. After all, you never know which one will come to fruition.
