As expected, 49ers receiver Deebo Samuel showed for San Francisco’s mandatory minicamp today. That decision was notable because earlier in the offseason, Samuel sat out of voluntary team activities, angling for a trade out of the Bay Area as he continued seeking a new contract during an offseason in which wideouts were getting PAID. So basically, Samuel’s arrival at Niners camp could be seen as a sign that the two sides are building a bridge toward a reunion.
However, the same can’t be said about Seahawks wide receiver D.K. Metcalf, who did *NOT* show up in Seattle for the team’s mandatory minicamp:
Sources: #Seahawks star WR DK Metcalf is not present for mandatory minicamp, as contract talks have not yet resulted in a new deal. He continues to rehab his injury in LA.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 7, 2022
This is a situation that is certainly worth monitoring. And on a couple of levels, too.
For one, Metcalf, 24, is in the final year of his rookie contract — a contract he’s seriously out-performed during his three seasons with the Seahawks (216 catches, 3,170 reaching yards, and 29 touchdowns in 49 games). Metcalf may have fallen just short of the 1,000-yard receiving milestone last year, but he still collected 75 catches, racked up 967 receiving yards, and scored 12 touchdowns. Plus, he’s just one season removed from an 83-catch, 1,300-yard, 10-touchdown Pro Bowl season in 2020.
So … uh, yeah. I’d say he’s worth of a contract extension that pays him big bucks.
But contract discussions have yet to yield anything worthwhile. And in an offseason in which the Seahawks sent quarterback Russell Wilson packing, it is fair to wonder if Seattle would go all-in on a fire-sale signaling a re-boot if the two sides can’t come to an agreement. The receiver market taking off as it did might cause some front offices to push pause on some of these potential extensions. And if that’s the case, the Bears should probably be monitoring this situation from afar.
You know, because the fit here is ridiculously obvious:
D.K. Metcalf is in the final year of his rookie contract.
The Bears project to have $99,655,469 in available salary cap space next offseason.
Just throwing that out there… https://t.co/p0dH4pgcuc
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) June 6, 2022
There is so much that needs to happen before we fully engage in some sort of obsessive Metcalf watch. Besides, it’s not as if this relationship is totally broken. Metcalf was reportedly in Seattle for voluntary workouts earlier in the offseason. In other words, sitting out mandatory minicamp represents a strategical maneuver from the Metcalf camp. And I respect it. Go get yours, D.K., good sir. We’ll keep tabs on this, even though we have a while before we cross a bridge leading to Metcalf’s departure. Remember, the Seahawks can still pony up a bunch of cash. Even if an extension doesn’t come to fruition, Seattle could retain Metcalf by using the Franchise Tag starting next offseason.
In the end, this situation deserves our attention. Because teams with receiver needs *cough*Bears*cough* figure to be circling like vultures waiting to swoop in at the right moment. For now, we’ll join the circling flock of birds peering from above waiting for the time to strike. This situation could get rather interesting down the line.