Omar Khan didn't wait around to upgrade the wide receiver position this year. On the eve of NFL free agency, the Steelers acquired D.K. Metcalf from the Seahawks. There's no doubt this is a seismic trade.

But, how does Metcalf fit in this offense? What does he bring to the table? And, does he make George Pickens expendable?

There's one thing that's undeniable: Metcalf meets Khan's demands of adding playmakers to the offense.

"Based on how the season ended last year, the reality is we've got to get more playmakers," Khan said at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. "I think we all recognize that. This process starts now."

The first thing that stands out about Metcalf is his sheer size. He's listed at 6-4, 235 pounds, and it wouldn't surprise me if he actually plays at a heavier weight. And that's absolutely a compliment. Whatever weight he plays at, it's nothing but muscle. I'm hard pressed to come up with any receiver in the league that's more physically imposing -- both in size and play style -- than Metcalf.

Metcalf doesn't just have elite size, but he also has elite speed. Coming out of Ole Miss in 2019, Metcalf ran a 4.33 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. That foot speed was never better exemplified better than when he ran down Budda Baker, saving a potential pick six:

Add an elite vertical (40.5 inches) and ridiculous broad jump (11 feet, two inches) to the equation, and Metcalf looks like a create-a-player on Madden more than an actual NFL wide receiver.

With the physical traits out of the way, which cannot just be brushed aside, Metcalf's game begins with a ridiculous ability to win on catches downfield. There might not be a better deep-ball threat in the league. Just last season, when targeted 20-plus yards downfield, Metcalf led the NFL with 16 receptions, ranked fourth with 489 receiving yards and tied for second with five touchdowns.

Look at the way Metcalf just out-muscles the defender. This is improvising, playing out of structure. Metcalf tried to find open space for Geno Smith, but Smith trusted Metcalf enough to make a catch even when there wasn't a lot of space. The Steelers have desperately needed more of this -- guys who just win, regardless of who's lined up across them.

That brings me to a very underrated part of Metcalf's game: Route running. Metcalf isn't just a one-trick pony, asked to run deep ball after deep ball. While he's phenomenal at it, he's also more than that.

Watch this release off the line of scrimmage against Sauce Gardner:

Metcalf doesn't win this route and make a catch in a tight window without that release. Gardner is good enough to close the gap in recovery, but Metcalf wouldn't have stood much of a chance without getting that head start. 

Metcalf also knows how to manipulate defenders and attack leverage to create open space:

Just one easy sell to the inside here and Metcalf blows by the safety. Despite the ball being underthrown, he uses his elite speed to make sure nobody catches him and he finds the end zone.

To reiterate, Metcalf can be used in more ways than just as a target downfield. Of his 108 targets last season, 47 were on vertical routes, more than anything else. But, 40 of those targets came on in-breaking routes, something the Steelers desperately need more of on offense.

So, yes, Metcalf absolutely stretches the field. And, his 42.9% contested catch rate on targets 20-plus yards downfield is among the best in the league. But, 46 of his 108 targets were between the numbers, with 25 of those coming 1-10 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. I'll say it again: He's not just a deep-ball guy.

Of course, many will wonder how this will work with Pickens. Forget about how volatile the situation could be. Both Metcalf and Pickens are known to ... wear their emotions on their sleeves. But, how does it work on the field?

While it's very tantalizing to think about how defenses would try to defend two outside receivers that are elite at making contested catches downfield, the Steelers need more versatility from their receiver room. They need to attack the middle of the field and intermediate areas more often.

Metcalf's game is more versatile. He can do that better than Pickens. That's why, regardless of the situation he's been in, he's remained productive. In six NFL seasons, Metcalf's never had less than 900 receiving yards. 

Now, the Steelers could just ride with Metcalf and Pickens for 2025, then let Pickens walk since his rookie contract expires after the season. Mike Tomlin gets paid the big bucks to handle all kinds of personalities. And while Metcalf and Pickens will likely be a handful, Tomlin's dealt with worse in the past.

It'll be interesting to see how this plays out over the next several weeks. Trying to trade Pickens and recoup a Day 2 draft pick could make sense, but only if there's another outside receiver to be added.

Either way, the receiver position is in a much better situation than it was last year. No doubt about that.