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DK Metcalf's suspension could cost him over $45 million
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf. Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

DK Metcalf's suspension could cost him over $45 million

DK Metcalf's uneventful first season with the Pittsburgh Steelers ended on a low note.

The former Seattle Seahawks star will be suspended for the final two games of the regular season after punching a fan in the win over the Detroit Lions.

The suspension also comes with a hefty $555K fine, but the Ole Miss product could lose much more than that.

As reported by Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk, the Steelers could now choose to void as much as $45 million in future guarantees. 

DK Metcalf's punch may cost him $45 million 

"The suspension allows the Steelers to attempt to waive Metcalf’s remaining $25 million in fully guaranteed pay for 2026," Florio wrote, stating that his suspension, which was for "conduct detrimental to the NFL," could help wipe out his massive contract from their books.

"There’s also another $20 million in 2027 injury guarantees, which also could be voided," added Florio. 

Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean that the Steelers will do that, but given Metcalf's unimpressive productivity, they may at least consider it.

The former Seahawks speedster has hauled in just 59 catches on 99 targets for 850 receiving yards and six touchdowns, according to Football Reference.

Once again, Mike Tomlin's team's passing game hasn't been as proficient, and with Metcalf projected to be their primary pass catcher after the George Pickens trade, the team might feel like it can do better.

He's still young at 28 years old, but he may not get much better than this at this point in his career. 

Ernesto Cova

Ernesto is a bilingual (English-Spanish) sports writer with over eight years of experience covering major leagues such as the NBA, NFL, and MLB. Ernesto’s work focuses on providing insightful, up-to-date coverage of sports, blending his expertise in sports psychology with a passion for analyzing player performance, team dynamics, and trade developments across various sports leagues

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