Dawgs By Nature
Cleveland’s WR room is limited after Jerry Jeudy, so should the Browns give Houston a call about John Metchie III?
The Cleveland Browns are very top-heavy when it comes to the wide receiver position.
In his first year with the Browns, Jerry Jeudy accounted for 23 percent of the team’s receptions, 32 percent of its receiving yards, and 21 percent of the receiving touchdowns.
The Browns are still hopeful that Cedric Tillman will take a step forward in his third season. They added Diontae Johnson in free agency on a one-year deal and have a promising group of undrafted free agents who can provide solid depth.
If general manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski are not happy with how things play out during training camp, they could be looking to make another addition. If it comes to that, a name to keep an eye on is John Metchie III of the Houston Texans.
That is according to Pro Football Sports Network, which highlighted Metchie as a potential fit in an article seeking one trade target for each team:
The Cleveland Browns went into the offseason with questions at receiver, and not much has changed. Jerry Jeudy is coming off his best season, and Cedric Tillman has potential. The team added Diontae Johnson, but he hasn’t stuck since leaving Pittsburgh.
Cleveland’s front office didn’t make any major moves to upgrade the room. With the Browns seemingly in a rebuild, adding competition rather than stars might be the move.
John Metchie III could be available after Houston loaded up on receivers this offseason. Metchie’s career has started slowly with 40 catches, 412 yards, and one score in two seasons. But after overcoming leukemia, he’s shown grit and growth.
He’s not a star, but Metchie would get more chances in Cleveland and potentially carve out a meaningful role.
Metchie was originally a second-round pick by the Texans in 2022 using a selection acquired from the Browns as part of the trade for quarterback Deshaun Watson. He earned second-team All-SEC honors in 2021 after leading Alabama with 96 receptions but suffered a torn ACL in that season’s SEC Championship Game.
Heading into the 2022 Draft, Metchie was projected as a slot receiver who could “play multiple receiver spots and has the ability to take what the scheme provides him,” according to his draft profile at NFL.com.
Metchie missed his rookie season after being diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia and has been slow to find his place in Houston’s offense. With Nico Collins entrenched as the No. 1 wide receiver, and the Texans having traded for Christian Kirk and drafted wide receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel this year, the opportunities for Metchie may be limited, leading the Texans to be open to providing him with a fresh start.
With Jeudy, Tillman, and tight ends David Njoku and rookie Harold Fannin Jr. already on the roster, Metchie could find a role as Cleveland’s third or fourth...
