The Los Angeles Chargers will likely be looking to improve the wide receiver position this offseason, something many fans and analysts felt they should have put more effort into before the start of the 2024 season.
It could be predictable that the team will bring in a big name at the position, but who will that be? ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently released some of his predictions for the 2025 season, and these predictions come with a bit of a caveat, as Fowler made them after meeting with some executives around the league.
Fowler predicts that the Chargers will trade for Seattle Seahawks star wide receiver DK Metcalf this offseason.
Chargers trade for DK Metcalf in prediction for the 2025 season
This may seem like a wild idea, but when you break it down, it’s not.
Metcalf is still one of the best wide receivers in the league but the Seahawks have anointed Jaxon Smith-Njigba as their No. 1 guy. As Fowler notes, there are a few reasons why this deal could make some sense.
Fowler: “Metcalf is still in his prime at age 27 and is a challenge for opposing defensive coordinators. But Jaxon Smith-Njigba received more targets than Metcalf among Seattle receivers this season — 8.1 to 7.2 targets per game — and Metcalf, a projected 2026 free agent, likely needs a new contract, which won’t be cheap.”
“The Seahawks can still get good value for him, and he could pair with Ladd McConkey for a good inside-out tandem,” an NFL coordinator said of a move to the Chargers. ” [Justin] Herbert to Metcalf would be scary. I think [Los Angeles] will be looking to help the quarterback in a big way.”
Food for thought with the DK Metcalf trade rumor Jeremy Fowler floated out there:
In the three seasons Metcalf had with Chargers WR coach Sanjay Lal
-had 1000 yards in each season (2020, 2022-2023)
-24 TDs between those three seasons (5 this past year) pic.twitter.com/sMNRovHSb4— Alex Insdorf (@alexinsdorf99) January 21, 2025
The Chargers could pair Metcalf with Ladd McConkey, who is coming off of a tremendous rookie season, to give Herbert a legitimate combination that would rival any in the league. At 27 years old, Metcalf still has plenty of football in front of him.
What would adding Metcalf cost the Chargers?
The Seahawks should still be able to shake good value out of a team in exchange for Metcalf and his 438 career receptions. They could be looking for a second or third-round pick in exchange for him and could likely get that.
The Chargers could draft a wide receiver in the second or third round, but that would be a gamble, as Metcalf is a proven commodity.
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