Over the past week, there has been a lot of talk about D.K. Metcalf and his request for a trade out of Seattle, with the Patriots being put front and center as one of the main teams looking into acquiring the wide receiver. Reports suggested that Metcalf had been in contact with the Seahawks about getting a deal done, and it looked like a deal was imminent.
New England has long needed a receiver of Metcalf's caliber, not only because of his size and speed but also because of his ability to easily shut down defenders and make big plays. Adding him to the offense for Drake Maye to work with seemed like a dream come true, despite his apparent disinterest in playing for the team.
A wrench was thrown into the mix over the past week, however, when it was reported that the Seahawks were hoping to receive a first- and third-round pick in return for a trade. This seemed to put the Patriots out of contention, although they could technically afford that and an extension for Metcalf, it was a steep price to pay regardless.
When that price was lowered, the Patriots were back in, only for the Steelers to swoop in and get a deal done.
It seemed like a big miss for New England and sent a lot of pessimism throughout the fanbase who felt they whiffed on finally trading for the kind of receiver the team has needed. But according to new reports, the new regime in Foxboro was never in on Metcalf in the first place.
New reports claim the Patriots were never interested enough in D.K. Metcalf to offer a trade
Before the chaos began on Monday morning, NBC Sports Boston's Phil Perry reported that the Patriots may have been interested in trading for Metcalf at one point, but before his trade to the Steelers, Vrabel and Co. had not made an offer.
The Patriots are on the lookout for help at receiver, but it's my understanding they never made Seattle an offer to trade for DK Metcalf.
— Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) March 10, 2025
An hour away from the NFL's legal tampering, expect Chris Godwin to be a priority for them.
That might not be the news Patriots fans want to hear, as many had gotten their hopes high about adding Metcalf to the roster. But given the steep price it took for the Steelers to get a deal done, it might be better that New England will keep that draft capital and spend it on other trades or drafting players of the future.
On top of that, Pittsburgh's reported extension to Metcalf (5 years, $150 million) is astronomical and might not have been a good idea for a team in need of a lot of upgrades like the Patriots, even if Metcalf could've been a big part of what they're trying to accomplish right now and down the road.
This puts more pressure on the team to find another way to add the caliber of talent the receiving corps needs, forcing them to look at free agents and other trades that could yield a similar result. They might not be game-definers like Metcalf, but some good options are worth considering, especially if helping Maye is a focus this offseason.