DK Metcalf shines in NFL Playoff Debut

Published 11:47 am Monday, January 6, 2020

Eight receivers went off the board in the 2019 NFL Draft before the Seattle Seahawks selected Ole Miss receiver DK Metcalf with the No. 64 overall pick.

On Sunday, the rookie Metcalf outshone every one of them, and literally every other player at his position over the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs.

Metcalf went off in the Seahawks 17-9 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, catching 7 balls for 160 yards and a touchdown in his first-ever NFL playoff game.

“Blessed, man. All I can say is I’m blessed. I have ‘miracle’ tatted on my back because God performed a miracle on me in college,” Metcalf told the Seattle Times after the game. “I’m not taking anything for granted, taking every practice, every rep, like it’s my last.”

Metcalf slipped in the draft seemingly due to his lack of lateral quickness, ranking rather low in drills such as the 3-cone despite running a blazing 4.33 40-yard dash – well above average for a player listed at 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds.

A common criticism at the time was his inability to run routes that didn’t occur on a vertical plane. Essentially, he was running a lot in a straight line and not much in-breaking routes. On Sunday night, in the first round of the NFL Playoffs, the first play of the game went to Metcalf on a slant, one of those in-breaking routes. He caught it for nine yards, the first of his huge night.

“I think the night was stolen by DK,” Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll told ESPN. “He just had a phenomenal night. Showed you what he’s capable of looking like. He’s had a great season in his rookie year, but to have a night like that in his first chance ever in the playoffs, that was spectacular. And he did some stuff that it’s hard to imagine anybody else doing.”

Metcalf isn’t the only Rebel rookie to advance in the playoffs, as fellow receiver AJ Brown and the Tennessee Titans knocked off the New England Patriots 20-13 on Saturday. Brown, being shadowed by likely NFL Defensive Player of the Year corner Stephon Gilmore, had just one catch for four yards. However, this performance is far from indicative of his rookie season where he led all rookies with 1,051 yards.

Brown and Metcalf have been in constant contact. Those at the game reported that the two had spoken extensively over the weekend about both going out and taking care of business. They’re going to have that same talk before next weekend’s divisional round playoff games.

The two former Rebel receivers, both of whom fell in the 2019 Draft, finished first and third in receiving yards among rookies.

Other former Rebels still remaining in the playoffs include Texans tackle Laremy Tunsil and defensive back A.J. Moore.