DK Metcalf is right to gush. His Seahawks look formidable, especially at wide receiver with rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba joining the team.
Seattle used the 20th pick of the first round to select Smith-Njigba, making the Ohio State standout the first receiver off the board.
Metcalf made an appearance on NFL Network Tuesday. And with training camp set to start later this month, he talked about what the Seahawks will bring this year to compete for a playoff spot. In what was supposed to be a rebuilding year, post Russell Wilson, the Seahawks earned a wildcard berth. Seattle believes it can go further than the first round this season, especially with an even more dynamic passing game.
“I mean, just the type of person [Smith-Njigba] is, first,” DK Metcalf told NFL Network. “He’s a great dude. And on the field, he’s a great route runner, excellent hands. So, I think he’s going to open the offense even more. (Plus) Zach Charbonnet is going to do, you know, amazing things at the running back position along with Ken Walker.
“We got a whole arsenal of weapons on offense, adding Bobby [Wagner] back on defense, you know, a leader for not only the defense but the whole team.”
Smith-Njigba will give the Seahawks some nice three-receiver sets with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. And that will benefit Geno Smith, a career journeyman who took over for Wilson last season. Metcalf caught 90 passes last season for 1,048 yards and six touchdowns. Meanwhile, Lockett pulled down 84 for 1,033 and nine scores.
With Wilson moving on to the Broncos, Smith won NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors. In March, Seattle signed Smith to a new, three-year contract for $75 million. Management also re-signed backup Drew Lock, the quarterback the Seahawks received in the Wilson deal.
This season, Smith will have that arsenal in both the passing and running game. The Seahawks selected Charbonnet in the second round to complement Kenneth Walker, who gained 1,000 plus last season as a rookie.
“We have to decide what type of team we’re going to be and not just listen to the outside noise,” DK Metcalf told NFL Network. “We just got to be a band of brothers on Sunday just playing for each other, and everything is going to fall in place.”
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