The NFL offseason is off to a roaring start. The Dallas Cowboys helped get the balling rolling in that regard when they signed star defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa to a lucrative extension.
The news cycle has been humming outside of Dallas as well. On Wednesday alone, the Chargers released veteran pass rusher Joey Bosa and star wide receiver D.K. Metcalf officially requested a trade out of Seattle after weeks of speculation about his future.
Even with Bosa's injury history, the Cowboys should be all-in on him given their need for a complementary pass rusher opposite Parsons. Bosa is one of the most accomplished pass rushers in the sport and is still a Pro Bowler-caliber player approaching his age-30 season.
Metcalf can be lumped into the all-in category as well, but his situation is much more complicated relative to Bosa, who is a free agent. Not only does Metcalf want a new contract, but the Cowboys will have to give up draft capital to get him.
How much draft capital, you ask? A whole bunch.
Rumored price of a D.K. Metcalf trade may force Cowboys to look elsewhere for their WR2
The Seahawks are looking for a first- and third-round pick for Metcalf, per The Athletic's Dianna Russini. On top of that, Metcalf is seeking a contract worth around $30 million per year.
The Seahawks are seeking a first- and third-round pick for WR DK Metcalf, per sources.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) March 6, 2025
Metcalf is also eyeing a new contract worth around $30M per year.
Multiple teams have inquired. pic.twitter.com/JX93XAvb52
Team always set a monstrous initial price for stars who request trades. While Russini added that "multiple teams" have inquired about Metcalf, we are hard-pressed to think any general manager will give up a first- and third-round pick for Metcalf in addition to paying him up to $30 million per year. A second-round pick is the more likely outcome
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Metcalf is admittedly built different than most receivers, but he's never surpassed more than 90 catches in any of his six seasons. While he's a touchdown machine and a nightmare to tackle in space, he has just 132 catches the last two years.
Metcalf would be a tremendous get for the Cowboys and he obviously wouldn't have to log 100 catches playing next to Lamb. A second-round pick is a different story, but a first- and third-rounder would be an absurd price to pay in addition to a lucrative extension.
Only six wide receivers make $30 million or more per year: Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb, A.J. Brown, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Tyreek Hill and Brandon Aiyuk. Their respective body of works all surpass Metcalf. Each of them are also a bigger focal point in their respective offenses.
The Dolphins' Jaylen Waddle ($28.25 million) and Bears' D.J. Moore ($27.5 million) fall just under the $30 million benchmark. Metcalf's new deal should land somewhere between Waddle and Moore.
With Lamb already on the books for $34 million per year, Dak Prescott making $60 million, Odighizuwa earning $20 million and Parsons primed to get at least $30 million this offseason, Metcalf's reported trade cost and contract demands are probably a non-starter for Dallas.
Expect them to shop in the $5-10 million range for a WR2.