Noah Hiles: It's time for DK Metcalf to play like the player he's paid to be

PITTSBURGH — Aaron Rodgers made a point to declare his confidence in DK Metcalf earlier this week.

“I’m not worried about DK at all, man,” the Steelers quarterback said Wednesday. “I love DK. He’s one of my closest friends on the team, and I’m going to keep feeding him.”

But while Rodgers might not be worried, it’s easy to understand why others might be.

The Steelers made a massive investment when they acquired Metcalf. They traded away a second-round pick and swapped Day 3 picks with the Seattle Seahawks to get him. Then they immediately signed him to a lucrative extension, one that pays him an average annual salary of $33 million.

His arrival gave the Steelers enough confidence to move on from George Pickens — a cheaper and more talented receiver whose immaturity had worn thin within the organization. The Steelers believed that Metcalf could not only exceed Pickens’ production, but also do so with less drama.

So far, that just hasn’t been the case.

So far, that investment hasn’t paid off.

Metcalf’s first year in Pittsburgh left plenty to be desired. He tallied a career-low 850 receiving yards on 59 receptions. His underwhelming production was often due to him being consistently double-teamed, a reality that most top receivers tend to face but something he could not consistently overcome.

And when the games mattered most, he was nowhere to be found — literally.

Metcalf’s suspension for striking a fan in Detroit left the Steelers without their top receiver for the final two games of the 2025 regular season, games they needed to win to make the playoffs.

Thankfully, the Steelers managed to grind out a victory in the regular season finale without him, giving Metcalf an opportunity for redemption. But the 28-year-old receiver squandered that.

Metcalf played poorly in the Steelers’ 30-6 playoff loss to the Houston Texans. He wasn’t the sole reason they fell short, but he certainly didn’t help — which is becoming a consistent theme.

Fast forward to last weekend, Metcalf’s first game in Year 2 with the Steelers.

He, perhaps more than anyone else, had the opportunity to shine in Week 1. His quarterback had returned. He was playing in an offensive system far better designed for his skillset. The Steelers acquired additional targets, allowing him to deal with less attention from opposing defenses.

Opportunities were certainly there against the Atlanta Falcons. But time after time, Metcalf failed to make a play — something he acknowledged Thursday.

“I don’t think it was good enough for myself,” Metcalf said, later adding, “If I could capitalize on the opportunities that I get, it’s a different ballgame.”

This isn’t to say Metcalf messed everything up. He was the victim of at least one missed pass interference call. But he didn’t exactly help himself either.

He was flagged twice for offensive pass interference. He dropped a pair of balls that would have been first downs. He failed to keep his feet in bounds on a catch down the sideline. All in all, it was a day to forget.

“Competitive fundamentals,” coach Mike McCarthy said about Metcalf’s drops. “We’ve just got to keep working it. It’s an unfortunate part of the game. You want to eliminate it. I know they work on it. Those guys do extra ball drills, doing everything they are asked. We’ve definitely got to be better.”

Can Metcalf actually do better, though? Or is this just what he is?

He didn’t need to make all of these aforementioned plays. But he didn’t make any of them, which shouldn’t be the case for a player in his pay grade.

In today’s NFL, elite receivers overcome disadvantages. They deal with double teams, uncalled pass interference and an occasional poorly placed throw.

How many times have we seen Metcalf do that here? There aren’t many highlight plays of him wearing black and gold that come to mind. How much longer must we wait for this to change? And what happens if it never does?

That last question is a scary thought.

The Steelers have a handful of solid offensive weapons, but Metcalf is their only player with the tools to be a true star.

He’s the best athlete on the team, and it’s not particularly close. He needs to be one of the NFL’s best receivers if this offense is to be anything more than average. And the longer we wait to see that happen, the more tense things will get.

It’s not difficult to sense the frustration boiling among Steelers fans. Metcalf arrived with high expectations. If things don’t change soon, he will start to hear it at home games. Fans in this town have booed bigger names than his, and if this happens, I can’t imagine he’ll handle it well.

Things won’t be any easier for Metcalf on Sunday. The New England Patriots boast a strong secondary headlined by Christian Gonzalez, the league’s highest paid cornerback.

“He’s definitely a very good corner in this league,” Metcalf said of Gonzalez. “I’m just looking forward to the opportunity to go against him on Sunday.”

Matchups like these are the ones the Steelers pay Metcalf to win. He doesn’t need to dominate, but he can’t be a ghost — or, even worse, a liability.

Those two things are what Metcalf has far too often been during his days in Pittsburgh. There’s still time for him to turn things around, but the clock is ticking.