Seattle Seahawks’ Draft Strategy in 2019: A Near Miss on Dual Wide Receiver Acquisition

In the 2019 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks intended to significantly boost their wide receiving core by acquiring two standout players, wide receivers DK Metcalf and Deebo Samuel. This strategy, while only partially successful, could have dramatically altered the landscape of the NFC West, according to new reports.

ESPN‘s Adam Schefter reported that the Seahawks thought they had secured a deal to draft both players in the second round. During the first round of the draft, Seattle traded their No. 30 pick to the New York Giants in exchange for the 37th, 132nd, and 142nd picks. The plan was to subsequently move up from the No. 37 pick to No. 35 to select Deebo Samuel.

However, the trade negotiations with the Las Vegas Raiders, who held the No. 35 pick, fell through as the Raiders ultimately traded the pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars. As a result, the San Francisco 49ers capitalized by drafting Samuel with the next pick at No. 36.

Zigzagging through the draft, the Seahawks traded down again and later made an upward move, trading third- and fourth-round picks to the New England Patriots to secure DK Metcalf with the No. 64 overall pick. This marked the culmination of a high-stakes draft day for Seattle, which had anticipated coming away with both stars.

In the years since, both Samuel and Metcalf have progressed to become key figures for their respective teams. Samuel, known for his versatility, has accumulated 5,677 scrimmage yards and scored 40 touchdowns for the 49ers. On the other hand, Metcalf has excelled in his role with Seattle, amassing 5,900 receiving yards and 46 touchdowns, achieving the 1,000-yard milestone multiple times.

This weekend, the Seahawks and 49ers are set to face each other at Levi's Stadium in a high-stakes NFC West encounter, with both Metcalf and Samuel expected to play crucial roles for their teams.