The Seattle Seahawks wouldn’t be as good as they are without DK Metcalf. Let’s say that from the beginning. Still, Metcalf could be a better player. And he likely caused Geno Smith’s second interception against the San Francisco 49ers by not coming out of his route sharply.

He has largely cut back on the silly 15-yard penalties that plagued most of his early career. He also set a Seattle record by having three consecutive 100-yard receiving games earlier this season. Then again, he can still be better.

What he has to do is solve his problems with drops. Not just dropped passes, but also catching the ball and then dropping the ball in the form of a fumble. He had no fumbles in 2023, but he did have two really bad ones in 2024. These are his worst falls so far this year.

4. Dropped passes against the New England Patriots in Week 2

Let’s not be too hard on Metcalf for this game, otherwise he had 10 catches for 129 yards and a touchdown. He might have had 150 if he hadn’t dropped two steps. This came after a 2023 season when Metcalf had his highest drop rate since 2020.

Metcalf has the speed and size to be a very productive receiver. What he lacks is anything close to elite hands. If he had the hands of, say, Tyler Lockett, Metcalf might have 1,600-yard receiving seasons.

3. Early drop(s) against the 49ers hampered any momentum

Metcalf’s first drop was on a simple out with Geno Smith throwing the pass exactly where the ball needed to be for an 8-yard gain. The defender was close to tapping the ball but didn’t, and Metcalf didn’t have the concentration to catch the ball. A receiver who wanted to be paid $30 million or more per season would have done so.

Another thing a receiver looking to make even more money would do is help his quarterback with slightly submerged deep passes. In the first half, Smith tried to hit Metcalf deep but couldn’t quite get what he wanted on the ball and Metcalf waited for the ball instead of coming back and getting contact from the defensive back. Lockett would have done that; Metcalf doesn’t seem to have the living consciousness to do the same.

2. Fumble in the third quarter against the New York Giants

In a game where Seattle was simply outplayed and head coach Mike Macdonald was outplayed defensively, the game was still tied at 10 in the third quarter, and Seattle was driving. Smith completed a pass to Metcalf, who got close to the 20-yard line but then coughed up the ball. Unlike the fumble that follows in the next example of a Metcalf drop, Metcalf simply fumbled, and there was no great defensive play.

Of course, Seattle should have played better the entire game and had the better roster. They would also likely score and take the lead in the third quarter. That might have changed the momentum.

1. First quarter fumble against the Lions

This was purely a fumble caused by a great play by the Lions defense and Metcalf fighting for extra yards, but the early mistake crippled Seattle and hurt the team later. The drive was promising and Seattle knew they were missing a lot of key defensive personnel, so they had to try to make the game a proverbial one. Maybe they would have made sure Metcalf hadn’t messed around.

Part of the problem is that Metcalf is big and strong. But he overestimates his own strength many times over. He is capable of excellence, but he also needs to learn that he cannot beat four or five defenders at once, especially when they know they can knock the ball out.