After a well-received draft, Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll has underscored how important keeping DK Metcalf is to the team in the wake of Russell Wilson's off-season exit.
Trading Wilson to the Denver Broncos saw the Seahawks - who are 12/1 to win NFC West this season - gain three veteran players, 2022 and 2023 first-round picks, a couple of second-round picks and a swap of a fifth for a fourth-round selection this year.
Schneider uses trade options well
Seattle general manager John Schneider, therefore, wasn't short of options as the draft unfolded in Las Vegas, snagging highly-rated Mississippi State offensive tackle Charles Cross with the ninth overall selection.
The Seahawks landed a number of other potential rookie starters with moves for Minnesota linebacker Boye Mafe, Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker III and Cincinnati cornerback Coby Bryant.
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One of the biggest storylines around the NFC West franchise has been the future of Metcalf, who is likely to be the next high-profile wide receiver to garner a $100million contract extension.
Nothing has yet been resolved while the 24-year-old rehabilitates from an off-season operation to deal with a foot injury, but the Seahawks' refusal to listen to trade offers around the draft is a positive sign.
Carroll eager to retain Metcalf
"It's really important for us," Carroll said of keeping Metcalf around long-term. "We'll kick it into John's court here in the weeks to come here after the draft.
"But we're really communicating great, we've been on great wavelength to move forward and hopefully this will all work out. We don't plan on him going anywhere else; we want him to be with us."
"It was a great statement for our guys," Carroll said of Metcalf showing up for voluntary offseason workouts.
"He wanted to show that this is his place and he has a responsibility to it, as we do also. I thought it was a great start to the off-season."
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