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Dk Metcalf is an elite athlete. I think a lot of people underestimate sprinters though. He's listed at 6'4'' 229lbs. He's large, but Usain Bolt 6'5" 207lbs, Asafa Powell 6'3" 205lbs, Donovan Baily 6'1" 201lbs, and Fred Kerley 6'3" 205lbs all have run under 10.
There have been tall/heavier sprinters all the way back to the 90s, and beyond, that have been world class. Nothing but respect for Metcalf, and he knew what he was getting into, as reflected by his humble interview after the race. He isn't a pro sprinter, that's all.
Sports specific training requires specialization, and he trains for football, a grueling contact sport. Sprinters specialize for a non-contact sport where speed is king. Neither group of athlete's would be elite if competing in each other's sport. As we just saw.
That's literally part of being an elite athlete in a sport. Elements of each sport have crossover but that extreme specificity and training to become elite in a respective sport means at the top level these athletes diverge.
Metcalf is an extraordinary athlete, but realistically never stood a chance. This meet didn't feature many of the fastest US sprinters, let alone the world. He still placed 15th at the meet. He's fast, but NFL fast is specialized speed, and translates poorly to the track.
The NFL has a lot of former track athletes, but very rarely is there crossover at the elite level. It's incredibly difficult, so when it does happen, it's something to behold.
