Ole Miss wide receiver D.K. Metcalf was long considered the top receiver in the 2019 NFL Draft class, but he fell all the way to the end of the 2nd round.
D.K. Metcalf’s slide is mercifully over. The Ole Miss receiver was selected with the final pick of the second round by the Seattle Seahawks, which orchestrated a trade with the Patriots in order to move back into round two to nab the talented receiver.
Metcalf made waves at the combine with an otherworldly 4.33 40-yard-dash after weighing in at 228 pounds. It was the fastest 40-time by a player that size in the history of the combine. He also put up 27 reps on the bench press and his vertical exceeded 40-inches.
Some of his other numbers were concerning, though, most notably his 3-cone drill, which clocked in at a well below average 7.38 seconds. That called into question Metcalf’s ability to change directions and run effective routes at the next level. The price of being as big as he is seems to have come in the way of his lateral agility.
His numbers also didn’t back up his athletic gifts, but a neck injury cost him the second half of his 2018 season in Oxford. He was on pace for a big year prior to the injury, putting up 569 yards (on a 21.9 yards-per-catch average) and 7 touchdowns in seven games.
Metcalf’s impressive physical ability seemed to lock him into the first round of the draft. He was considered by some as a potential Top-10 pick. He was the consensus No. 1 WR on draft boards, but that didn’t translate over to the actual draft.
Instead, Metcalf saw eight other receivers come off the board ahead of him before the Seahawks stepped in and finally ended his skid down the draft. Fortunately for him, that slide lands him into a good situation with an established quarterback and a franchise that is a consistent playoff team.
Metcalf gives Russell Wilson his big play threat on the outside, and he should pay instant dividends as a redzone threat. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he stays healthy if Metcalf leads all rookies in receiving touchdowns in 2019.
Grade: A