Seahawks GM John Schneider opens up on contract issues leading DK Metcalf trade to Steelers: "He really wanted a fresh start"

DK Metcalf set off a domino effect when he signed with the Steelers in the offseason, bringing his career with the Seahawks to a close. With him moving from Seattle to Pittsburgh, that opened up a spot for Cooper Kupp to go from the Rams to their divisional rivals. Davante Adams flew in from New York to fill in the former triple crown winner's spot in Los Angeles.

DK Metcalf is a standout wideout in the NFL, so it was a surprise that the Seahawks let them go. But on Rich Eisen's show, Seattle general manager John Schneider was adamant that it was an amicable split. He said that the receiver was not really haggling over salary, and that is not why a prospective extension fell through. Instead, the executive said that the player wanted a change in scenery and a fresh start, and that is how the trade to the Steelers came about. He said,

“It really wasn't [salary-related]. And it wasn't, it was interesting because it wasn't like animosity either. It was like, he really, really wanted a fresh start…”

Do the Steelers need another WR despite DK Metcalf trade from Seahawks?

Based on John Schneider's comments, it looks like DK Metcalf's trade is a win-win situation for all parties. However, while the Seahawks have moved on, the Steelers still have to think whether they need another player to complement him.

It was clear that Pittsburgh needed a new wide receiver to pair with George Pickens. With only one top receiver on their roster, their offense was becoming one-dimensional. Tight end Pat Freiermuth was contributing in certain plays, but there was a need to find one more wideout opposite their primary starter.

DK Metcalf might have addressed that issue, but now the Steelers might need to look again, as they have traded Pickens to the Cowboys. They are trying to lure Aaron Rodgers to be their starting quarterback, and the future Hall-of-Famer might be wary of going somewhere where he cannot recover his legacy after a tough couple of years in New York.

With the Jets, Rodgers had only one primary wide receiver in Garrett Wilson. He struggled mightily, and it required a midseason trade for Davante Adams to make him happy. It was not enough to revive the franchise's fortunes, but it indicates the signal-caller's demands. One might not even call them unreasonable since he had to deal without a single wideout drafted in the first round during his entire tenure with the Green Bay Packers.

With Najee Harris also moving on, there is a question about whether Pittsburgh's offense will be effective, even with DK Metcalf in it.