The Houston Texans shook up their roster on Sunday, less than one full day after they downed the Carolina Panthers in Week 2 of the preseason. The Texans traded former second-round draft pick John Metchie to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Metchie, a fan favorite largely due to his story, was the No. 44 overall pick of the 2022 draft.
He missed his rookie season while receiving treatment for leukemia, and has posted 40 receptions for 412 yards and 1 touchdown in his two campaigns since.
“Trade: the Houston Texans are sending WR John Metchie to the Philadelphia Eagles, per sources,” ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported in a post on X on August 17, leading a slew of corroborating efforts.
The Texans will get their pick back with tight end Harrison Bryant, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Texans get:
- Harrison Bryant
- 2026 fifth-round pick (via HOU)
Eagles get:
- John Metchie III
- 2026 sixth-round pick (via PHI)
Bryant won the John Mackey Award as the nation’s best tight end in college. He was a fourth-round draft pick (No. 115 overall) of the Cleveland Browns in 2020.
He has caught 98 passes for 877 yards and 10 touchdowns in his career.
The Texans are dealing with depth issues at tight end after losing Brevin Jordan and Dalton Keene to injuries. Bryant also spent time with the Las Vegas Raiders before landing with the Texans in this trade with the Eagles for Metchie.
DeMeco Ryans Praised John Metchie III Before Texans Trade
GettyJohn Metchie III #8 of the Houston Texans warms up before facing the Baltimore Ravens.
Metchie’s journey with the Texans took another unfortunate turn this offseason. The Texans drafted a pair of wideouts, former Iowa State playmakers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, during the 2025 cycle.
They also acquired veteran Christian Kirk in a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars and could get Tank Dell back from a severe knee injury at some point in 2025.
Metchie was looking at an uphill climb to secure a roster spot with the Texans.
Metchie had one reception for 8 yards in the Texans’ 20-3 victory over the Panthers. However, he caught five passes for 45 yards in the Texans’ 20-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, and received strong praise from head coach DeMeco Ryans afterward.
Metchie was one of several Texans receivers Ryans praised, but he was the first the head coach mentioned.
They are all fighting to make the final roster.
“All our receivers did a really nice job. Metchie showed up making plays. You had Braxton [Berrios] making plays. A ton of different guys are showing up,” Ryans told reporters on August 9. “We got a really full room of guys there who can play in the NFL. So, it’s going to be tight competition, down to the wire.”
Collins, Dell, Higgins, Kirk, and Noel are all locks to make the roster. That left, at most, two spots for Metchie and the others.
The Texans made their decision, and Metchie gets a fresh start with the reigning champions.
“This seemed inevitable given how deep the Texans WR room was,” the Houston Chronicle’s Jonanthan M. Alexander posted on X in reaction. “Also, there was no way the Texans wanted to cut Metchie and let him go free.”
Texans, Super Bowl Champion Eagles Helping Each Other
GettyHouston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans stands on the sideline against the Carolina Panthers.
ESPN’s Field Yates noted that this is one of several trades the Texans have made with the Eagles this offseason.
“The Eagles have now traded for a 2022 first round pick by the Texans in OL Kenyon Green and a 2022 second round pick by the Texans in WR John Metchie,” Yates said in a post on X on August 17.
Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reported the Eagles beat out the San Francisco 49ers for Metchie.
The Texans also acquired safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson from the Eagles this offseason.
“The #Texans have a very deep WR room and are very impressed with the young rookies they drafted in Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel,” Schultz said in a follow-up post.
“They have been actively open to trading John Metchie for over a week and the #Eagles end up getting him. Howie Roseman did something similar almost a year to the day — when he traded for Jahan Dotson.”
Metchie goes from the Texans to a reunion with Eagles star Devonta Smith.
The duo won a national championship together with the Alabama Crimson Tide before Metchie was drafted by the Texans and Smith by the Eagles.
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