John Metchie III, a second-round pick by the Houston Texans in the 2022 NFL Draft, could be traded this week. After overcoming cancer in his rookie season, the former Alabama star has built a strong connection with fans. But Alabama fans may need to watch another team than Houston to see Metchie in 2024.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that various teams have shown interest in trading for the Texans' John Metchie, given their deep wide receiver lineup. While it's not confirmed whether Houston is open to trading him, the interest from multiple teams is notable.
Metchie, a second-round selection from Alabama, had a promising preseason showing with 10 receptions, 100 yards, and a touchdown.
The Texans boast a strong receiving group, including Stefon Diggs, Tank Dell, Nico Collins, Noah Brown, and Robert Woods, which positions them well to potentially trade Metchie for extra draft picks without diminishing their receiver strength.
During his time at Alabama, Metchie tallied 155 catches for 2,081 yards (averaging 13.4 yards per catch) and 14 touchdowns across three seasons, leading to his selection by Houston in the 44th overall spot of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Metchie's rookie year was sidelined due to an ACL injury sustained in the SEC Championship Game, rounding off his college career in late 2021, followed by a leukemia diagnosis in May the subsequent year. After overcoming cancer and being cleared for football last summer, he saw limited action, securing 16 out of 30 passes for 158 yards. Metchie also contributed to Houston’s special teams on punt and kick returns.
John Metchie III Landing Spots
Pittsburgh Steelers
In 2023, none among Van Jefferson, Calvin Austin III, Quez Watkins, or Scotty Miller managed to surpass 210 receiving yards. Roman Wilson is entering his first NFL season and has been sidelined with a left ankle injury since week two of training camp.
The situation with the wide receivers is disappointing, particularly concerning whether George Pickens sustained an injury. Should Brandon Aiyuk not be the answer, the Steelers should consider moving for a wide receiver before the season kicks off. As an alternative, Metchie presents a more affordable option, requiring considerably less in terms of draft capital.
Atlanta Falcons
The loss of Rondale Moore to a season-ending injury was a brutal one for Atlanta. The Falcons have a solid starting roster, but their depth is abysmal. It's hard to imagine Ray-Ray McCloud and KhaDarel Hodge actually playing a lot of snaps in 2024, but they've been battling with rookie Casey Washington for the slot job this preseason.
Atlanta should send a late-round pick for Metchie and hope to hit on the young playmaker. Otherwise, the Falcons will be even more reliant on a thin tight end room beyond Kyle Pitts and a deep running back room.
Washington Commanders
While Carolina might seem like an obvious choice over Washington, the Commanders are also hurting for depth. Either veteran Olamide Zaccheaus or Jamison Crowder will be in for a role too big for either of their britches. The alternative is for Luke McCaffrey, who was way overdrafted in the third round of this most recent class, to play a ton of snaps.
There's no guarantee Metchie is better than any of these guys, but he's a warm body with a better skill set than the aging Crowder and unproven options behind Zaccheaus.
Where would you like to see the former Alabama star?
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