Sources – Seahawks considering Deebo Samuel-DK Metcalf duo in 2019 draft

Instead of being on the opposite sideline Sunday, as they have been for the past six seasons, Pro Bowl receivers Deebo Samuel and DK Metcalf almost found themselves on the same team after the 2019 NFL Draft.

The Seattle Seahawks intended to draft both receivers in the second round that year and believed they had a deal in place to do so, league sources told ESPN on Saturday.

In the first round, the Seahawks traded the No. 30 pick to the New York Giants for Nos. 37, 132 and 142 with the idea that – the next night – they would move up from No. 37 to No. 35. select Samuel .

Shortly before the second round, Seattle completed a trade with the Raiders to move up to 35th, with Samuel as a target.

But before that trade was finalized, the Raiders instead decided to send the 35th pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars, who selected offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor. To this day, the Seahawks don’t know why the Raiders reneged on the deal, according to sources.

One pick later, at No. 36, the San Francisco 49ers drafted Samuel. Once the Seahawks missed Samuel, they traded up again, moving from No. 37 to No. 47, with No. 77 also at their disposal. At No. 47, Seattle drafted Utah free safety Marquise Blair.

But the Seahawks’ big plan in the second round was to put Samuel near the top and Metcalf later. They ended up getting Metcalf when they traded down to the last pick of the round, the 64th overall pick. Seattle traded third and fourth round picks to the New England Patriots for this selection.

So the Seahawks were only able to get one of the two wide receivers they were targeting in a draft day that would have changed the NFC West and the NFL in different ways for years.

Each receiver returns Sunday after a combination of unfavorable circumstances. A week ago, Samuel started yelling at 49ers kicker Jake Moody after missing his third field goal of the day, only to place his hand on long snapper Taybor Pepper’s throat before removing himself from the situation. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said the situation has been resolved and Sunday’s game against the Seahawks will be Samuel’s first since the sideline incident.

Samuel is San Francisco’s third-leading receiver this season, with 468 yards on 29 catches.

Metcalf, who missed Seattle’s last two games with a knee injury, returned to practice last week and is expected to play in San Francisco. The two-time Pro Bowler has 35 receptions for 568 yards – tied for the team lead – and three touchdowns in seven games this season.