The Seahawks have traded WR D.K. Metcalf to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 2nd round draft pick. Metcalf will leave the Seahawks with $21 million in dead money and free up $10.875 million in cap room. This was largely a salary dump for the retooling Seahawks who likely saw Metcalf as the number two target on the team and had no intentions of extending him in 2026 when Metcalf’s contract expired. Seattle should be 5th in the NFL with about $68 million in cap room.

The Steelers will sign Metcalf to a five year, $30 million contract extension which will tie him for 5th in the NFL at the position. The Steelers made an attempt last season to trade for Brandon Aiyuk and likely would have signed him to a similar contract. Aiyuk wound up returning to the 49ers at the last minute which set the stage for this trade to happen a season later.