Russell Wilson on D.K. Metcalf: ‘He can be a Hall of Famer if he wants to be'

SEATTLE — Seahawks' quarterback Russell Wilson had high praise for rookie wide receiver D.K. Metcalf this week.

When asked by Brock Huard and Jake Heaps on 710 ESPN Seattle about Metcalf's potential, Wilson said: "I think he can be a Hall of Famer if he wants to be."

Metcalf was drafted by the Seahawks in the second round with the 64th overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft.

The 6-foot-4 inch, 230-pound former Ole Miss star stole the show at the NFL Combine in February when he ran a 4.33 40-yard dash – tied for the third fastest time at his position.

Metcalf also finished tied for first among wide receivers at the bench press. He had 27 reps of 225 pounds.

However, Metcalf fell in the draft due to concerns over injuries he sustained in college and his three-cone time, 7.38 seconds, which was the third slowest of any wide receiver at the combine.

"I was a nobody at one point in my life," Metcalf said earlier in training camp. "I've just got to keep that same mentality."

Metcalf was the first of three wide receivers the Seahawks drafted this year, in part to try to help fill the void left when Doug Baldwin retired this past offseason.

To help develop chemistry with Wilson, Metcalf spent time with the Seahawks quarterback in Southern California.

"I think it's important to make sure you spend that time with certain guys and try to build those one-on-one relationships," Wilson said in training camp. "D.K., being the guy that he is and the position he got drafted in, there's a lot of high expectations on him, and letting him know that hey, we are here to do everything we can to make you the best player you could possibly be. The great thing is he makes it easy on us because he wants to put the work in."

Metcalf will get his first chance to play in a Seahawks game Thursday, when the Seahawks kick off against the Denver Broncos at 7 p.m.

Information from the Associated Press is included in this report.

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