ESPN's Bill Barnwell on Monday, March 10, wrote that the Steelers' investment in Metcalf and the presence of wideout George Pickens already on the roster points to a likely change in preference from Justin Fields in 2025 to Russell Wilson.

The Pittsburgh Steelers kickstarted their offseason overhaul by acquiring receiver DK Metcalf in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks, a move that will have a big impact on how Pittsburgh navigates the rest of NFL free agency.

Widely considered to be a top target for the Steelers on the free agent market, where will the team pivot to from here? Would a DK Metcalf for George Pickens trade straight up make any sense for the Steelers?

Roethlisberger announced his retirement back in 2021 after playing all 18 of his NFL seasons with the Steelers. Since Roethlisberger left the gridiron, Pittsburgh has struggled to find consistency at the quarterback position. Kenny Pickett, Fields and Wilson have all spent time under center for the franchise.

Metcalf should make Pittsburgh more appealing to the Steelers' next QB. He also gives the team significant leverage over George Pickens.

Metcalf just agreed to a five-year, $150 million deal with the Steelers, while Pickens is entering the final year of his rookie contract. It might make the most sense for Metcalf to keep his No. 14 jersey, but Pickens has a say in the matter.

Some fans are already anticipating fireworks in the wake of the trade sending wide receiver DK Metcalf to the Pittsburgh Steelers. On Sunday, several

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) catches the ball for a touchdown over Los Angeles Rams cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (4) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong) AP Former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf is a Pittsburgh Steeler.