A physical and athletic wonder before the 2019 NFL draft, DK Metcalf lived up to the hype as a rookie with the Seattle Seahawks.
After the performances and figures of the 6-foot-4, 230-pound star, a look at the statistics is headed for brighter days for Metcalf.
As part of a burgeoning crop of rookie receivers who participated in impressive campaigns in 2019, Metcalf was joined by Terry McLaurin of Washington and AJ Brown of Tennessee as first season phenomena who each received more than 50 receptions and an average of 15 yards per catch.
Each of the last six rookie receivers to reach these marks received 1,000 yards in the following seasons, according to NFL Research. Indeed, great things seem to be in store for Metcalf.
The final Metcalf number of 58 catches, 900 yards and seven touchdowns was each among the top three among the recruits. Now he will seek to launch a bigger problem for the opposing defenses.
Receiving yards in the second season after more than 50 catches, 15 more YPC recruits (last six instances)
Second season reception yard
PIT JuJu Smith-Schuster 2018 1426
HOU DeAndre Hopkins 2014 1210
CLE Josh Gordon 2013 1,646
IND TY Hilton 2013 1083
He already carved out some brilliant history in the NFC Wild Card’s victory over the host Eagles in Seattle with a performance of seven takes, 160 yards and a score. Those 160 yards represent the best performance for a rookie playoff receiver during the Super Bowl era and are the most for a Seahawks affair after the season for any eliminator, rookie or not.
Before the Seahawks wrote it, Metcalf, roughly resembling a real figurine, did 27 repetitions of the bench press with a combine, then, despite its size, wowed a little more with a dash of 4.33 40 yards.
It turned out not only to be a marvel of a combine, but a bona fide weapon at close range for the spectacular Russell Wilson.
A common question for the Seahawks in 2020 is whether Metcalf can take the next step in its second season, but barely a year later, it is evident that the great man of the Pacific Northwest is not taking steps, he is making progress – and giants at this.
