After a disappointing 2025 campaign, the Pittsburgh Steelers needed a strong start for DK Metcalf in the season opener against the Atlanta Falcons. Unfortunately, they received anything but.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers looked in Metcalf's direction early and often in Week 1, but the veteran receiver struggled more than anyone could have anticipated. In addition to committing a pair of offensive pass interference calls by pushing off against the opposing Falcons cornerback at the top of his route, Metcalf also had a brutal drop on a dart from Rodgers over the middle of the field in the second half.
By the end of the contest, Metcalf reeled in just four of 10 passes for 40 yards (4.0 yards per target), and with the penalties, inconsistencies at the catch point, and dropped pass, it proved to be one of the worst performances of Metcalf's career.
Considering what the Steelers are paying their top receiver, this is simply unacceptable.
Pittsburgh Steelers fans should be worried about Metcalf's massive contract
Thankfully, Metcalf's blunder didn't cost the Steelers the game. Mike McCarthy's team was still able to squeak out a 20-13 win amid a plethora of offensive struggles (thank you, T.J. Watt and the defense). But Metcalf's outing was inexcusable.
Last offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers not only traded a valuable second-round pick for Metcalf, but they also quickly made him one of the highest-paid players at his position in the NFL. Metcalf received a massive four-year, $132 million contract extension from general manager Omar Khan and the front office, giving the veteran receiver an average annual value of nearly $33 million per season.
Sadly, the Steelers haven't witnessed a fraction of his billing on the field.
After a disappointing 2025 campaign that included just 59 receptions on 99 targets for 850 yards and six touchdowns, Metcalf got off to a remarkably slow start against the Falcons in Week 1.
But beyond the bad statistical production, Metcalf is simply becoming impossible to trust when the ball is in the air. And considering he's a top-10 highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL, this is completely unacceptable.
In order for Pittsburgh to get their money's worth out of Metcalf's contract, they need the two-time Pro Bowler to actually look like the most consistent and most reliable option on the team. They need him to look like a cut above the rest, and the guy Rodgers can trust in crucial moments of the game.
Unfortunately, this may never be the case. Metcalf has always been a high-variance option in the passing game—sometimes he looks nearly unstoppable, and other times he looks borderline unplayable.
Last season, Metcalf earned a 71.1 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, which ranked 41st among 128 qualifying receivers, via PFF. This more or less aligns with how he fared against the competition across the league.
We know who Metcalf is at this stage of his career: he's a high-end, boom-or-bust WR2 masquerading as a WR1. But he's making far too much money to continue to be this inconsistent.
Steelers fans have to hope that Metcalf's Week 1 performance against the Atlanta Falcons will later prove to be his worst of the season, and that things will only improve from here. Either way, we just got a painful reminder how one of the worst contracts in the NFL, and this team is going to have a serious problem on its hands if their top-billed pass catcher doesn't make dramatic improvements immediately.
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