Gang Green Nation
The Jets recently acquired wide receiver John Metchie III via trade and he has already played in three games for the team. Today we break Metchie down in detail.
The 25-year old Metchie is listed at 5’11” and 187 pounds and was a second round pick out of Alabama in 2022. After missing the entire 2022 season, Metchie started three games and caught 40 passes for 412 yards and a touchdown over the past two seasons with the Texans. However, he was traded to the Eagles at the start of this season and didn’t play much.
Background
Metchie has a unique background as he was born in Taiwan, lived in Ghana and Canada as a young child and is of Nigerian heritage. He attended high school in Maryland and then spent a year in New Jersey before heading to Alabama as a four-star recruit.
As a true freshman in 2019, Metchie played in all 13 games but only caught four passes and recorded one tackle.
However, in 2020, an injury to Jaylen Waddle enabled Metchie to start 11 of 13 games. He posted two games where he racked up over 150 receiving yards and ended up with 55 catches for over 900 yards and six touchdowns.
In 2021, he started every game and was named as a second-team all-SEC selection as he was third in the conference with 96 catches and 1,142 yards. He also had eight touchdown receptions, but suffered a serious late-season knee injury.
Despite the injury, Metchie declared for the 2022 draft and was selected in the second round by the Houston Texans. However, he was then diagnosed with a form of leukemia and missed his rookie year as he received treatment.
In 2023, he made his NFL debut early in the season and ended up with 16 catches for 158 yards in a reserve role.
Last season saw Metchie make the first three starts of his career and catch his first touchdown. He ended up with 24 receptions for 254 yards with his best numbers being posted against Aaron Glenn’s Detroit Lions defense when he had 74 yards on five receptions.
Metchie also has nine catches for 107 yards in four postseason appearances.
During preseason, Metchie was traded to the Eagles, but he didn’t really find a role with them as he had just four catches in the first seven games. He ended up being traded to the Jets in the Michael Carter II trade.
Since joining New York, Metchie had just one catch in his first game but then had three catches for 45 yards and a touchdown against the Patriots and a career-high six catches for 65 yards and another touchdown against the Ravens.
Let’s move onto some more in-depth analysis of what Metchie brings to the table as a player, based on extensive research and film study.
Measurables/Athleticism
Metchie doesn’t have much size, with a low catch radius. However, his speed, burst and acceleration are apparent on film.
He couldn’t post any workout...
