Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks and DK Metcalf haven't made much progress on a new contract, but expect that to change soon.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported the Seahawks are planning to be "aggressive" in extension talks with Metcalf over the summer after several months of minimal movement.

"The people I'm talking to believe that Seattle will be aggressive sometime this summer in trying to hammer out a deal," Fowler said Sunday on SportsCenter.

"This could be similar to Jamal Adams' situation last year. Different positions, but Adams missed some time in the offseason and then showed up to camp and sort of did one of those 'hold-ins' where you don't participate in anything. That pressed the issue and they eventually got something done.

"So, Metcalf could follow a similar path. Execs I talk to believe he's got a trade market, that teams have called or at least made some overtures to feel out whether he'd be available. Seattle has not really pressed that issue. They want to get something done with him long-term. It just depends on if they can get the right money."

Metcalf is heading into the final year of his rookie contract, which will pay him just under $4 million for the 2022 season. He's likely to multiply that figure by six or seven once he signs a new contract, with several wideout contracts this offseason topping $25 million annually in new money.

It's worth noting that most of those contracts—Tyreek Hill, Davante Adams and AJ Brown—came after a trade. The Seahawks held onto Metcalf through the 2022 NFL draft process but are in the midst of a retooling phase after trading Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos.

It's possible, if not likely, that Metcalf's per-game numbers take a hit with the downgrade from Wilson to Geno Smith, Drew Lock or a yet-to-be-acquired quarterback. Metcalf held out of the team's mandatory veteran minicamp last week.

“We’ve been through this for years, you know. And it’s a challenging time,” coach Pete Carroll told reporters. “We’ve had so many high-profile guys that have gone through this process, and how’s that worked out for us? We figured it out in time. And so (GM John Schneider) is on it, and he’s as experienced as you can get at handling this stuff, and DK’s got great representation, and DK is a heck of a kid.”

The longer the situation lingers, the likelier it is that Metcalf attempts to exert his leverage by sitting out in training camp—or, as Fowler notes, performing a "sit-in" to avoid daily fines for missing mandatory work.

Seattle Seahawks star wide receiver DK Metcalf skipped the team's mandatory three-day minicamp this week while in the midst of a contract dispute.

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said Thursday that Metcalf is a priority for the team and expressed optimism that the two sides will eventually come to an agreement.

"These are crucial weeks to get something done and we'll see what happens and hope that we can work something out," Carroll told reporters. "[We've] really intended to get that done."

Metcalf's absence from minicamp is considered to be unexcused by Seattle, meaning he could be subjected to fines of more than $93,000 for skipping all three days.

Carroll declined to answer whether the Seahawks will levy those fines. But even though he supports Metcalf, Carroll said he was disappointed he didn't show up this week.

"A decision that he had to make," Carroll said. "We missed him. He had done a nice job of contributing, being a part of everything we had done and then he just is not here. So I can't say much about for what he hasn't done here, but we'd love to have him with us."

Metcalf is entering the final year of his rookie contract. The 24-year-old has established himself as one of the top receivers in the NFL since he was drafted with a second-round pick in 2019. In his first three seasons, Metcalf has yet to miss a game and has a combined 216 catches for 3,170 yards and 29 touchdowns.

The 2022 offseason has seen a significant number of massive contracts given to wide receivers. Based on his talent and production, Metcalf could be in line for a deal worth $25 million per year.

Carroll reiterated that he feels confident the Seahawks will get a deal done with their star wideout.

"I'm not less optimistic, no," Carroll said. "We've been through this for years. It's a challenging time. We've had so many high-profile guys that have gone through this process, and how's that worked out for us? We've figured it out in time."

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith said he expects the situation related to his Jan. 10 arrest for suspicion of DUI will be "worked out."

Smith, who re-signed with the Seahawks in April to compete for the team's starting QB job following the trade of Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos, spoke to the media for the first time this offseason on Wednesday, per ESPN's Brady Henderson.

"Those things will be worked out, but I'm extremely confident in all those things," Smith said when asked about the arrest. "Those things, they have a timeline and they have to get worked out, but I don't see any problem."

The Washington State Patrol report stated an officer clocked Smith traveling at 96 mph in a 60-mph zone and changing lanes without using his signal, which led to the traffic stop. He told the officer he'd had some wine but stopped 90 minutes before driving, per Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times.

Smith became "argumentative" when the officer asked him to perform a field sobriety test and refused a breathalyzer, according to the arrest report. Seahawks director of team security George Englebright showed up in an effort to calm him down, per Condotta.

The 31-year-old Florida native was booked and released after a blood test was performed.

Smith posted a statement on Twitter after the incident:

A King County Prosecutor's Office spokesperson told Henderson they are still awaiting the results from the blood test, which can take around 10 months, before deciding whether to file formal charges in the case.

Smith signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Seahawks for a chance to compete with Drew Lock and Jacob Eason for the top spot on the depth chart. He spent the past three years as the backup to Wilson.

The former New York Jets starter made four appearances (three starts) for Seattle last season while Wilson recovered from a finger injury. He completed 65 of his 95 throws (68.4 percent) for 702 yards with five touchdowns and one interception. He also added a rushing score.

Smith explained Wednesday he's looking forward to the chance to become a full-time starter for the first time since 2014:

I believe in myself and my abilities, and I also know that things happen. I was sitting behind three ironmen with Eli [Manning], Philip [Rivers] and Russ. Those guys don't miss games, but I always knew that I had the ability to play in this league. I've done great things in the preseason, and even when I did start, I had good games, but I knew the time would come, and it did—it did. I think if you just talk about my play, I think I did well enough to get this opportunity, but the wins are the only thing that matter. In those starts [last year], I was 1-2. We lost two tough games to some playoff teams, really good teams, and I really think that if I had executed a few things better, then we could have won the game, and I know every single guy feels the same way. With this upcoming season, I look forward to those new opportunities and chances, if I get the opportunity, to go out and win games. Learning from those experiences last year I think will pay off.

Smith, who could face NFL discipline under the league's personal conduct policy, and Lock figure to share first-team snaps throughout training camp and the preseason.

DK Metcalf's decision to skip the Seattle Seahawks' mandatory minicamp this week will cost him.

Per ESPN's Brady Henderson, Metcalf will be fined more than $93,000 if he misses all three days of minicamp since his absence is unexcused.

Metcalf had foot surgery in February to remove a screw that was inserted during a previous procedure. The 24-year-old is also seeking a new contract, as he is entering the final season of his rookie deal.

This does mark a change for Metcalf, who was present during voluntary offseason workouts with the Seahawks in April.

Head coach Pete Carroll told reporters at the time that Metcalf was "involved with everything we're doing" even though he wasn't able to participate in on-field drills because of his foot surgery.

Despite not being with the team for mandatory minicamp this week, Metcalf has been confident that a deal will be worked out with the Seahawks.

"I will say, we gon' get something done," Metcalf said on the Club Shay Shay podcast after the first round of the NFL draft (h/t Sports Illustrated's Ty Dane Gonzalez). "I think I'mma be in Seattle for the next coming years."

It's unclear what Metcalf is seeking in a new deal, though he has performed like one of the best receivers in the NFL through the first three years of his career. He has averaged 1,057 yards receiving and 9.7 touchdowns per season since the start of 2019.

Five wide receivers in the NFL are making at least $24 million in average annual salary. Tyreek Hill of the Miami Dolphins is the highest-paid wideout in the league, as he sports a $30 million average salary.

The Seahawks selected Metcalf with the No. 64 pick in 2019. He is owed $3.986 million this season.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf is not present for his team's mandatory minicamp amid contract talks, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Metcalf is heading into the final year of his rookie deal and has a cap hit of $4.3 million in 2022, which ranks just 41st at his position, per Spotrac.

The wideout is instead in Los Angeles rehabbing from offseason foot surgery.

Both sides have seemed confident they can reach a new deal this offseason.

Head coach Pete Carroll told reporters in May a Metcalf extension is "really important."

"We're really communicating great and DK, we’ve been on a great wavelength to move forward," Carroll added. "Hopefully this will all work out. We don’t plan on him going anywhere. We want him to be with us."

Metcalf also told Shannon Sharpe on his Club Shay Shay podcast that "we're gonna get something done."

Teams have called the Seahawks about potential trades for Metcalf, but "Seattle eschewed any offers," according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

Despite these positive signs, the 24-year-old still doesn't have a new deal and is now holding out during mandatory practices.

The 2019 second-round pick has been one of the NFL's best values in his three-year career, averaging 72 catches, 1,056.7 yards and 9.7 touchdowns per season. He was named second-team All-Pro in 2020 after totaling 1,303 receiving yards on 83 catches with 10 touchdowns.

Several top receivers have already been traded this offseason, including Davante Adams, Tyreek Hill and Metcalf's former Ole Miss teammate A.J. Brown.