DK Metcalf‘s been nothing short of a beast since day one. He’s gone over 1,000 yards three times in six seasons. In 2020, he broke the Seahawks‘ single-season record with 1,303 yards. That same year, he earned a Pro Bowl spot and was named second-team All-Pro. In addition, he made the Pro Bowl again in 2023. However, in 2024, he fumbled a bit. The former Ole Miss star recorded 66 catches, 992 yards, and five touchdowns. He was just eight yards shy of another 1,000-yard season. Still, what he’s done puts him in rare air.

DK Metcalf and Randy Moss are the only ones in league history to start their careers with six straight seasons of at least 50 grabs, 900 yards, and five scores. That’s not just consistent, that’s greatness. Despite all of these, in March, the Seahawks traded Metcalf to the Steelers in exchange for a second-round pick, No. 52 overall. Why? Because the veteran wide receiver requested a trade himself, as he reportedly felt like an “outsider” in his final season in 2024.

Now that Metcalf’s heading to Pittsburgh, he’s bringing some serious fire with him. On Wednesday, he dropped a photo carousel on Instagram with black-and-white shots of him grinding it out in the gym, lifting heavy, locked in. But it was the caption that really turned heads.

“I hope my opps never have a change of heart,” he wrote. That felt like a message, loud and clear, for the whole league, maybe even the Seahawks. Nevertheless, in Pittsburgh, he’ll replace George Pickens’ volatile presence with a more composed and, arguably, more reliable one that would boost the wide receiver room. And with his resume, presence, and that massive five-year, $150 million contract? He’s stepping in as a top dog.

But DK Metcalf isn’t chasing titles right now. He kept it simple: “The leadership skills will come as they need to be. But we’re here to win games. We’re here to win as many games as we can.” So yeah, 2025’s going to be one to watch. However, some media houses are counting on his 2024 season, giving him bad reviews.

Did DK Metcalf receive a poor grade?

PFF just dropped their 2025 NFL wide receiver rankings, and yeah, DK Metcalf made the list. But not where fans might’ve hoped. He landed in Tier 4 at No. 23. That’s a bit of a reality check. His 2024 season wasn’t his strongest, pulling a 75.0 receiving grade. Solid, but not elite. In the given rating, he was behind the names like Ladd McConkey, Jaylen Waddle, Devonta Smith, and Brandon Aiyuk, among others.

Whereas, in Tier 1, the name who topped the list was as obvious, A.J. Brown. It’s because he dominated the defensive backs across the board, as well as received the highest grade in 2024 (96.6). Nevertheless, for DK Metcalf, there’s something to be said for consistency.

Since his rookie year in 2019, Metcalf’s never dipped below a 73.0 grade. He has stacked up 89 contested catches along the way. Now, he’s hitting reset in Pittsburgh. New city, new jersey, and maybe a chip on his shoulder. Let’s see what that spark turns into.

For now, DK Metcalf is pumped up. He said in an earlier interview, “I’m a physical receiver, big shoutout to my pops, who was the O-lineman in this league for a little bit. He instilled that in me, and I just try to play the game a different way. God blessed me with the talents and with this opportunity, so I’m not going to take it for granted.” The fire in him is pretty real, and now, it’ll burn in Steel City!