The Green Bay Packers were linked to Seattle Seahawks wide receiver D.K. Metcalf during the NFL Combine.
Multiple reports surfaced, some that contradicted others.
On Wednesday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Metcalf requested a trade. The Packers have now gained leverage if they want to pursue the Seahawks receiver.
Seattle supposedly wanted a package revolving around Green Bay’s 23rd-overall pick and one of its wide receivers even to entertain the idea of trading Metcalf.
That price tag seemed way too steep, even for a wideout of Metcalf’s caliber. Seattle had every right to make it as unrealistic as it wanted. It had the leverage.
Now that has shifted.
The San Francisco 49ers surely wanted more than a fifth-round pick for wide receiver Deebo Samuel. However, once Samuel came knocking on the door wanting out, San Francisco’s leverage shrunk.
The two sides agreed to let Samuel seek a trade. They got what they could while making sure Washington took on the remainder of Samuel’s contract.
Metcalf is in a contract year. He doesn’t have two or three years remaining on his deal where Seattle could essentially say “tough luck” and cling on to him.
Instead, the Seahawks now have to decide whether it’s worth it to hang on to Metcalf for one more season and let him walk without getting anything back. That’s compared to trading him, even if it’s at a bit of a discount, now that everyone knows he wants out.
Schefter’s report states the request came after “a series of conversations over the past two weeks,” which is telling. Metcalf’s request didn’t catch Seattle by surprise. They probably tried to mend things but realized it was past the point of no return.
Seattle has leverage in that it can try to stir up a bidding war for draft compensation for Metcalf. Today’s price isn’t yesterday’s price, though.
Green Bay now has an opportunity to pick up the phone and see if other compensation that doesn’t include its first-rounder can get the job done for Metcalf.
