DK Metcalf is a trade target for the Green Bay Packers ahead of the new league year, and any type of deal would have to include a contract extension. Money is ultimately why Metcalf has officially requested a trade out of the Seattle Seahawks, as he is entering the final year of his deal.

Right now, Metcalf is slated to make $18 million in 2025. Teams who are willing to acquire him understand that a new deal would have to be made, preferably right after the trade is executed to avoid further risks.

New three-year extension

When Metcalf signed his extension with the Seahawks back in 2022, there was a trend among wide receivers to sign three-year deals. It was a perfect move for the players, because now they are all in position to get new contracts.

According to Spotrac, Metcalf is in line to sign another three-year extension. And that would make perfect sense for the Packers as well.

Metcalf is 27, and he has a year left in his current deal. So a three-year extension would mean a four-year contract, expiring when Metcalf is 31. Paying a receiver longer than that is just too dangerous and feels unnecessary for both sides, because there wouldn't be guarantees left.

Spotrac projects a three-year, $81.6 million extension, with a $27.2 million yearly average.

The last big contract the Packers gave to a wide receiver was Davante Adams' extension back in 2017. At the time, it was a four-year, $58 million deal, with an $18 million signing bonus.

That's 31% of the deal. So in an $81.6 million contract, an equivalent signing bonus would reach $25.3 million. Usually, the Packers don't give players guarantees beyond the signing bonus, so they could inflate the bonus a little bit more to make it more appealing.

Combining the new extension with the old deal, it would be a four-year, $99.6 million contract in total, with $24.9 million per season.

What the structure would be (without void years)

• Total contract: $99.6 million/4 years
• Signing bonus: $28 million
• Guaranteed at signing: $28 million

2025

• Base salary: $1.17 million
• Signing bonus proration: $7 million
• Workout bonus: $100k
• Cash: $29.27 million
• Cap hit: $8.27 million

2026

• Base salary: $1.3 million
• Roster bonus: $14 million
• Signing bonus proration: $7 million
• Workout bonus: $100k
• Cash: $15.4 million
• Cap hit: $22.4 million

2027

• Base salary: $11 million
• Roster bonus: $14 million
• Signing bonus proration: $7 million
• Workout bonus: $100k
• Cash: $25.1 million
• Cap hit: $32.1 million

2028

• Base salary: $29.73 million
• Signing bonus proration: $7 million
• Workout bonus: $100k
• Cash: $29.83 million
• Cap hit: $36.83 million

These roster bonuses are put in place so the Packers would have the flexibility to convert them into signing bonuses to clear cap space in the future. The final two years are way more expensive in terms of cap hit, but there would be no guarantees left and the dead money is reasonable if the experience goes South.

While it's obviously a significant amount of money, it's a fine structure and would allow the Packers to maintain the financial flexibility over the next few seasons.

Now, general manager Brian Gutekunst has to weigh how much draft capital he is willing to give up considering the big contract that will also be in place.

DK Metcalf reportedly wants something Green Bay can’t offer, but Seahawks GM’s statement puts the Packers back into the trade mix

Wide receiver has requested a trade