Ex-Cowboys star WR wants to ‘unlock’ DK Metcalf in a way the Seahawks never could

Wide receiver DK Metcalf played for the Seattle Seahawks for six seasons. He was good, sometimes great, but rarely a sustainable elite. Maybe he was held back by the team having a couple of good receivers and the design of the offense. But should he have been?

Especially in 2024, when Seattle had an offensive coordinator in the person of Ryan Grubb, who seemed incapable of running plays not designed to get the ball to the wide receivers, Metcalf should have been terrific. He wasn't, but fellow receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was.

Metcalf wasn't bad. He still had 992 yards receiving and five touchdowns, but he also never had a top-five season in the league. The receiver made two Pro Bowls. Metcalf could have potentially made himself an even better weapon, but he often let his emotions get the best of him in games.

DK Metcalf could have used Dez Bryant's help when he was with the Seattle Seahawks

That doesn't mean others don't think he can't be more than what he has been. Former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant, for one, thinks he can make DK Metcalf better. Bryant even posted on social media this week that he would like to work with the former Seahawks wideout to help him improve.

Of course, Metcalf is now with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He once again asked for Seattle to trade him this offseason, and general manager John Schneider finally obliged. In return for Metcalf, Seattle got a second-round choice. If Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson or Cincinnati Bengals wideout Ja'Marr Chase were traded, they would bring back a lot more.

For Bryant to offer now to help coach up Metcalf is odd. The former Seahawk is going into year seven. Bryant could have given the same offer in one of the wide receiver's Seattle seasons. Maybe this is more of an attention grab by the former Cowboys receiver, or at least an attempt to do so.

DK Metcalf certainly had every chance to evolve into one of the better receivers in the league. He started his career with Russell Wilson as Seattle's quarterback, and Wilson threw one of the best deep passes in the NFL. Geno Smith took over for Wilson in 2022, and the Seahawks threw the ball even more.

The truth is that Metcalf could have been better had he been sharper in his routes. Three times last season, he forced Smith to throw interceptions when Metcalf rounded his route instead of cutting it sharper. As physically gifted as DK Metcalf is, had he plied a bit more craft to his trade, he might have been one of the best five receivers in the league.

Maybe that is where Dez Bryant would begin coaching DK Metcalf. The Cowboys receiver should tell the Steelers receiver, "This is how you perfectly run a route." Who knows? That might be worth a try.