Tim Benz: DK Metcalf proves that $150 million can buy a lot of things — including faith

The Pittsburgh Steelers are paying $150 million to DK Metcalf to catch passes over the next five seasons.

During his introductory press conference on Thursday, Metcalf may have caught himself in the middle of a quote.

When asked about why he felt comfortable enough to sign a long-term deal in Pittsburgh despite an unsettled quarterback situation, Metcalf said, “They made me feel like they had the right decision with who was going to be throwing me the football.”

Wait? There’s been a decision? There was one before Sunday night when the Steelers traded with Seattle and Metcalf’s corresponding contractual agreement was constructed? If there was a decision with a QB, has one side or the other changed their minds?

Metcalf either immediately realized he had misspoken or that he had said too much because, as he continued his quote, the former Seahawk blurred those lines.

“I’m not making the decision in the quarterback room,” Metcalf continued. “I’m just going to try to do the best of my abilities to help whoever they have out there throwing the football so they make the correct decisions to bring the quarterback in here. I’m just going to roll with that.”

Well, “Whoever they bring in” is a long way from “they had the right decision.” So perhaps that was merely an understandable slip of the tongue.

Or, maybe the answer the whole time has been Mason Rudolph, and we’ve all just been in an ayahuasca-induced Rodgers-Darnold-Fields-Wilson-Stafford haze for weeks.

Hey, if Russell Wilson and Kenny Pickett can potentially team up in Cleveland, I’m pretty much convinced that anything is possible.

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I also asked Metcalf if he got any feedback on playing in Pittsburgh from Wilson since those two have a good relationship dating back to their days as teammates in Seattle.

“We haven’t talked about his future here. But I talked to Russ yesterday, proposed to my fiancé, and he was the one that connected us. So he was just telling me congratulations,” Metcalf revealed. “But last year, halfway through the season, me and Russ had a conversation about how it was living here. He just told me that I would love it here.”

I wonder if he’d love it even more if the guy who threw him the ball for his first 216 catches as a pro would be the quarterback in 2025. Given their chemistry, that may be the best available option, even above Aaron Rodgers, who appears to be the candidate the Steelers are trying to land.

Metcalf also showed little concern about how the chemistry would work with George Pickens in the wide receiver room or with how he’d function in Arthur Smith’s offense.

“He’s a great coach. He’s had some exceptional players in Tennessee and last year here. Just looking to put my own mark on his offense,” Metcalf said. “Just to know George from the little conversations that we had in passing — great player, watching from afar. The receiver coach (Zach Azzanni) calls him ‘Freak Show,’ and I think that’s a fitting name for him with the circus catches that he makes. But I’m just here to try to instill any wisdom or any knowledge that he allows me to, and vice versa.”

Apparently, $150 million buys a lot of faith.

Faith in an offense that stumbled in its first year. Faith in a receiving partner who has proven volatile in his first three years. Faith in a quarterback room that currently tops out with a guy the franchise has bypassed or turned loose so many times now that I’ve lost count.

“This is a historic organization. They’ve done the recruiting before I even got here,” Metcalf added about the QB situation. “Whoever wants to come here and try to win as many games as we can, they can join us.”

As Metcalf mentioned, he got engaged just before arriving in Pittsburgh. Congratulations to him and his fiancé, Normani. It’s great that he’s found a partner for life.

Now, it’d be nice if the Steelers could find him a suitable quarterback for at least the next year.

Listen: Tim Benz and RotoWire’s Jeff Erickson team up for this week’s Fantasy Sports podcast