DK Metcalf Contract Extension Is Priority in Offseason, Seahawks' Pete Carroll Says

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said Tuesday that the organization is trying to come to terms on a contract extension with wide receiver DK Metcalf before the start of the 2022 season.

According to Gregg Bell of the Tacoma News Tribune, Carroll said: "It's really important to us. We love him. He maybe will go down as one of the great draft picks we've ever had here. We are going to do everything we can to get it done."

The Seahawks selected Metcalf in the second round of the 2019 NFL draft out of Ole Miss, and since entering the league, he has formed one of the best wide receiver tandems in the NFL with Tyler Lockett.

The 24-year-old wideout has already exceeded his draft position with three productive NFL campaigns.

After recording 58 receptions for 900 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie, Metcalf took the next step in 2020, finishing with 83 grabs for 1,303 yards and 10 touchdowns en route to his first career Pro Bowl nod.

With quarterback Russell Wilson missing a few games because of injury, Metcalf took a step back in 2021 with just 75 catches for 967 yards, but he did manage to set a new career high with 12 touchdowns.

Now, Metcalf must adjust to life without Wilson in 2022 and beyond, as Seattle traded the quarterback to Denver Broncos as part of a deal that brought back a ton of draft capital, as well as quarterback Drew Lock, tight end Noah Fant and defensive lineman Shelby Harris.

Lock appears to be in line to start for the Seahawks in 2022 unless Seattle addresses the quarterback position in the draft or trades for someone like Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield.

If Lock is going to have any success, he will need big-time production from Metcalf and Lockett, which was a regular occurrence over the past three years with Wilson at the helm.

Metcalf is set to become a free agent following the 2022 season, which may be why Carroll expressed some urgency to get an extension done before the season starts.

A big year from Metcalf could drive his price up even more and force the Seahawks to place the franchise tag on him to avoid losing him if the two sides are unable to reach an agreement.

There was speculation after the Wilson trade that Seattle may want to trade Metcalf and Lockett too, but every indication the Seahawks have given thus far is that they want to keep their weapons in place in order to best support Lock or whoever is under center.

Metcalf is one of the most remarkable athletes in the NFL and one of the best young players at his position, so it is understandable why the Seahawks wouldn't want to part ways with him.

Based on some of the contracts handed out in free agency, including the Jacksonville Jaguars' four-year, $72 million contract with wide receiver Christian Kirk, the Seahawks will likely have to present a big offer in order to keep Metcalf over the long term, however.