One of the most talked-about trades of the 2025 NFL offseason was DK Metcalf’s move from the Seattle Seahawks to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Pro Bowl wideout had serious interest in another destination before the trade was finalized: the Las Vegas Raiders.
During an episode of The Get Got Pod with Marshawn Lynch and Michael Robinson, the hosts revealed Metcalf had a strong desire to join his former coach Pete Carroll with the Raiders.
“[Carroll] tried to bring everybody up out of that building,” Lynch said.
Robinson added, “Remember, DK wanted to go there.”
DK Metcalf Wanted Las Vegas Raiders Before Steelers Trade Finalized
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Metcalf’s connection with Carroll and former quarterback Geno Smith made the Raiders a logical landing spot. Both joined Las Vegas this offseason — Carroll as head coach and Smith via trade — prompting speculation that Metcalf could be next.
“Me and Geno got to Seattle the same year,” said DK. “I used to bounce ideas off of Geno. Geno used to help me my first couple years with DB’s. He was like ‘Oh, you got so-and-so this week. I remember him when he was there, all he does is XYZ’. Me and Geno used to talk to each other about opposing DB’s when he was a backup.”
“He becomes a starter and we still had that same conversation,” Metcalf said. “The same chemistry where we could talk about stuff and I knew he was going to find me. I knew he had told Lock (Tyler Lockett), he was going to find Lock. So, it was great having Geno as a quarterback . . . Just having him as my extra set of ears and eyes in the offensive meeting and even when things got shaky, Geno would sometimes come up to me and say ‘Bruh, that was my bad, man. I got you, I got you. I need you to stay with it’.”
Despite the chemistry with Smith and his respect for Carroll, Metcalf ultimately landed in Pittsburgh in exchange for a first- and seventh-round pick. The Steelers, in need of an offensive upgrade, paired Metcalf with Aaron Rodgers, hoping to jolt a stagnant passing game.
Still, Raiders fans are left wondering what could have been. Las Vegas opted not to chase a No. 1 wide receiver in free agency or the trade market, instead adding rookies Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton.
Metcalf begins his next chapter in Pittsburgh, but it’s clear that reuniting with his Seattle roots in Las Vegas was more than just a rumor — it was nearly a reality.