The Steelers made a splash with WR DK Metcalf, and they are empowering him this offseason to return the favor. Spending big to bring him in and sign him to an extension, he’s clearly a focal point of the team. And so far, he likes what he sees from Arthur Smith’s offense and how it utilizes him and the receivers.
“He gives us, pretty much, freedom to win our routes”, Metcalf said of Smith, via the Steelers’ website. “Not trying to pigeonhole us with trying to run a route a certain way. But we’ve got to be on point with the details with [Aaron Rodgers]”.
That’s not to say that Metcalf can just do whatever he wants in Smith’s offense, of course. After all, as he pointed out, he has Rodgers to contend with, who won’t play video games with him. Still, other receivers also said Rodgers offers them flexibility in their route as long as they’re in the right place.
Thus far during training camp, the two have slowly but surely been building chemistry. Both Metcalf and Rodgers are not only new to each other, but to Arthur Smith’s offense as well. While they worked out together briefly in the offseason, it still doesn’t amount to much.
Even Rodgers admitted that he is still getting the offense down, a week into training camp. And for what it’s worth, Smith talked about how well Rodgers fits into his offense. Some see it as an unlikely duo, but both seem to embrace it. And we know Arthur Smith has had success with receivers like DK Metcalf before, particularly with A.J. Brown.
The Steelers saw DK Metcalf as George Pickens’ replacement, though not perhaps as early as 2025. Clearly, they considered moving Pickens, though, and eventually did. Presumably, Smith was on board with that, as long as they brought in somebody like Metcalf.
Arthur Smith was a big hire for the Steelers last year, and they want to give him players like DK Metcalf to ensure he has the opportunity to succeed. His first season with the Steelers didn’t meet with the success they desired, but they saw the recipe. So this offseason, they went shopping and picked up the ingredients.
Metcalf is a part of Smith’s kitchen, but so are Kaleb Johnson, and Jonnu Smith, and Kenneth Gainwell. Last year, they drafted three offensive linemen who fit his vision, and they’re all starting. Robert Woods is even the type of physical, veteran presence he wants in the wide receiver room.
To call this a make-or-break season, though, would be hyperbolic. Smith isn’t going anywhere after this season, regardless of how the Steelers perform; at least, not against his will. But they still want to see what Smith can do with players like Rodgers and Metcalf. They know they don’t have their franchise quarterback on hand, but Rodgers, they believe, is the closest approximation available.
