2019 NFL Draft: Grading the Seattle Seahawks Day 2 picks
By Samuel Teets
Round 2, Pick 64: D.K. Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss
It wasn’t long after the Seahawks took D.K. Metcalf with the final pick in the second round that some disturbing news broke. Adam Schefter for ESPN reported that Doug Baldwin may never see another snap in the NFL.
At the age of 30, Seahawks WR Doug Baldwin might be unable to play again due to the cumulative effect of multiple injuries, per sources. There is a real chance that Baldwin, one of the Seahawks’ best and most popular players, has played his last NFL down, a source said Friday.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 27, 2019
I’ve been writing about how the Seahawks need Baldwin back and healthy since the season ended, but now it looks like that might not be a possibility.
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Baldwin missed three games in 2018, but he battled through injuries for the entire season. That’s why his production dropped from 4.7 receptions and 61.9 receiving yards per game in 2017 to 3.8 receptions and 47.5 receiving yards in 2018. To underscore the receiver’s importance, I’d go as far to say that since he became a full-time starter in 2014, no one outside of Russell Wilson has meant more to the offense than Baldwin.
From 2015-17, his best three-year stretch, Baldwin recorded 247 receptions, 3,188 receiving yards, and 29 receiving touchdowns. He made the Pro Bowl in 2016 and 2017. And even though he played in just 13 games in 2018, he was still the most targeted player on the team, even beating out Tyler Lockett.
Outside of his statistics, Baldwin is also a fiery leader on the team. He’s a former undrafted player, and that chip on his shoulder has shown in his aggressive attitude and playing style. There’s no one immediately equipped to fill that leadership void if Baldwin can no longer play. It would be a devastating blow for a team that has lost many important pieces over the last two seasons.
With all of this new information, the Metcalf pick gets cast in an entirely new light. I actually listed Metcalf as one of the five prospects to avoid for the Seahawks this year, but I was assuming that he’d be taken with an earlier pick than 64th overall. At that spot, Metcalf offers good value, despite a long list of injuries in college.
Considering the now glaring need at wide receiver and the sheer physical talents and raw potential Metcalf possesses, this is my favorite pick by Seattle so far.
Pick Grade: A-