Mile High Sports

Should Denver consider D.K. Metcalf at 10th overall?

Brandon Ewing
Mississippi Rebels wide receiver D.K. Metcalf (14) catches a touchdown pass as Florida State Seminoles defensive back Tarvarus McFadden (4) defends in the second quarter at Camping World Stadium.

Sep 5, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Mississippi Rebels wide receiver D.K. Metcalf (14) catches a touchdown pass as Florida State Seminoles defensive back Tarvarus McFadden (4) defends in the second quarter at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports

Former Ole Miss wide receiver D.K. Metcalf took the NFL world by storm this weekend at the Scouting Combine.

Whether it was weighing in at 228 pounds with a reported 1.6 percent body fat, or putting up 27 bench press reps to go along with a 40.5” vertical, Metcalf showed off an athleticism that is unmatched in this year’s draft class. All of that came before Metcalf had a grand finale for the NFL world, which was running one of the fastest 40-yard dashes at the combine in 4.33 seconds.

Considering that Metcalf is 6’3” and weights 228 pounds, that 40-yard dash number might be the greatest posted by a receiver in NFL history. Metcalf also showed out on drills as he showcased an ability to do what he does best, which is go in a straight line and catch the football.

After playing in just five games with Ole Miss last season, Metcalf suffered a season-ending neck injury that cut his collegiate career short. This injury was Metcalf’s second major one he suffered in college; he was forced to take a medical redshirt during his freshman season after injuring his foot in just the second game of the season.

Metcalf’s injury history is the biggest concern with his draft stock, considering there are absolutely no issues with his play on the field. Even in his limited college career, Metcalf still played in 21 games where he recorded 1,228 receiving yards and scored 14 touchdowns. The beastly receiver really came on the scene in 2017 when he played in 12 games, which he hauled in seven touchdowns to go along with 646 receiving yards.

It was his play in 2017 that put Metcalf on NFL team radars, which he followed with a solid redshirt sophomore season recording 569 yards receiving and five touchdowns in just five games. Even though Metcalf’s season was cut short, he still showed what made him so special, which he only put on full display at the combine.

The biggest questions going into the combine was A: How healthy was Metcalf? and B: What would he weight in at? Metcalf’s weigh-in question was mostly centered around a photo that went viral just a few weeks ago as the first-round hopeful looks incredibly fit.

Metcalf was so ripped in the photo that some people were wondering if he was almost to built and that it would hurt his draft stock. He put all those worries to bed with his play at the combine, though as he now, has a great chance of being the first receiver drafted.

For Metcalf, a lot of what he did in Indianapolis was done in the months prior as he worked tirelessly to get to where he is today. Overcoming a neck injury is never easy, but Metcalf is showing no-ill effects of that problem as his play on the field is doing all the talking. If you also talk to anyone around the wideout, they will say just how hard a worker he truly is, which was evident in just how much his combine performance meant to him.

Now to his fit with the Broncos, who currently hold the 10th pick in the draft. With the Broncos trading for Joe Flacco, is quarterback still a need at 10? Or could Denver look in a different direction come draft day? The biggest problem for Denver now is that Metcalf might not even be available when they are on the clock with the 10th pick. Considering how the Oakland Raiders have three first-round picks, they could possibly use the 4th pick on Metcalf and use their other two-selections to fill other holes on draft night.

Oakland seems like the only place Metcalf could be drafted before Denver, until you get to Buffalo at nine, who could use a new receiver as well. If none of those teams decided to take the athletic star that is Metcalf, it would put Broncos President of Football Operations John Elway in a tough situation of what to do. Denver still has Emmanuel Sanders under contract for next season and some promising young receivers in Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton, but who’s to say they cant add another star to that group?

If the Broncos do end up considering Metcalf, it could potentially take them to the next level. Adding Metcalf could be the final piece to the puzzle for a Broncos offense that is looking to reinvent itself next season. What better way to do that then by adding quite possibly the next best receiver in the NFL?

If Denver does indeed pull the trigger with Metcalf on draft night, it could possibly be the missing piece that puts the Broncos over the top next season and back into the playoffs.

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