The Houston Texans and Philadelphia Eagles made waves on Sunday when the two teams agreed to a trade for former second-round wide receiver John Metchie.
The 24-year-old wideout has had a turbulent start to his NFL career after being selected with the 44th overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft.
Metchie missed his entire rookie year after being diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia. He was cleared to play the following year, but made a minimal impact with 16 receptions for 158 yards in 16 games.
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The former Alabama star played a slightly bigger role in Houston’s offense last year, logging 24 catches on 37 targets for 254 yards and a touchdown as the Texans’ No. 4 WR behind Nico Collins, Tank Dell, and Stefon Diggs.
But after Houston traded for former 1,100-yard receiver Christian Kirk back in March and taking Iowa State star Jayden Higgins in the second round of the 2025 draft, Metchie became expendable in a suddenly crowded receiver room that also features Braxton Berrios, Quintez Cephus, Xavier Hutchinson.
The Texans reportedly fielded a couple of offers for Metchie, with the team settling for a late-round pick swap and adding tight end depth behind Dalton Schultz, Cade Stover, Irv Smith Jr., and rookie Luke Lachey, according to ESPN’s DJ Bien-Aime.
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“Per league sources the Texans are swapping day 3 picks with the Eagles and receiving tight end Harrison Bryant for WRs John Metchie,” Bien-Aime reported.
And while the Eagles already deep WR room, which features A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Jahan Dotson, and Johnny Wilson, got even better, Philadelphia also poached Metchie from another NFC rival, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
“Sources: The #49ers were the other team trying to trade for John Metchie III. But the #Eagles made a better offer,” Schultz wrote on X.
San Francisco’s interest in adding another wide receiver should come as no surprise.
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The team’s WR depth took a big hit after trading Pro Bowler Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders this offseason. Star wideout Brandon Aiyuk is expect to be out until Week 6 of the regular season as he recovers from an ACL and MCL tear last season, Equanimeous St. Brown was placed on season-ending injured reserve nearly two weeks ago, Jauan Jennings has been dealing with a calf injury, and rookie fourth-round pick Jordan Watkins has been dealing with a high-ankle sprain.
As things stand, the 49ers will likely head into Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks with Ricky Pearsall, Demarcus Robinson, Russell Gage, Jacob Cowing, and Robbie Chosen as their top healthy wide receivers.
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