According to Jordan Schultz, an NFL insider, there could be another wide receiver option for the Steelers on the trade market. As teams try and fluctuate their roster for Week 1, many teams will juggle different players on their team as they try and find potential upgrades out there. The Steelers should be active as they have a couple of weak links on their team.
According to Schultz, the Texans are getting calls about their talented receiver room. "Multiple teams have reached out to them to see if WR John Metchie III would be available in trade due to the plethora of receivers on their roster. It’s unclear if Houston would move him, but several teams are keeping a close eye," Schultz tweeted.
There are plenty of quality receivers who could provide upgrades for Pittsburgh from the Texans organization. No matter if that is Metchie, Roberts Woods, or someone like Xavier Hutchinson. Each would provide a different level of impact for the Steelers, but they would help the roster get better. Pittsburgh should be making calls to potentially acquire one of their receivers.
As mentioned above, it is possible Woods or Hutchinson could become available either via trade or if they get cut by the Texans. Woods is a veteran guy who could help play snaps on offense for the Steelers no matter if it is on the outside or in the slot. Hutchinson saw a ton of pre-draft interest from the black and gold and is a big target who could provide quality depth.
The Star of this story is Metchie as the former second-round pick tries to find his footing in the NFL. He was taken in the 2022 NFL Draft by the Texans after an explosive collegiate career at Alabama. Many saw him as a potential first-round pick, but he suffered a devastating injury late in his college career. It knocked him down on draft boards.
Sadly, Metchie didn't get to enjoy his football career much after getting drafted. He announced weeks later that he was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia and would miss his entire rookie season. A year after his diagnosis, he was cleared to rejoin the Texans for their training camp. He has still been trying to catch up since.
Houston has a ton of star players in the receiving room, and they added to that this past offseason by acquiring Stefon Diggs in a trade with Buffalo. In a roster crunch, talent will be let go by the Texans at the receiver position. Metchie could be the odd man out since he is someone the team just hasn't seen enough of.
His trade value would likely be higher than Woods or Hutchinson. Letting Metchie go might be a hard pill for the Texans to swallow, but it might be something they must do. If this young receiver is out there, the Steelers should be calling Houston every hour. Many fans in Pittsburgh are still clinging to hope that the team can land Brandon Aiyuk in a trade, but that seems less likely by the day.
Adding Metchie might not certify a fix at the receiver position, but it would add an upgrade to the position with someone who could push Van Jefferson for the starting job. Metchie is a young receiver with draft pedigree, which Mike Tomlin will love. He is a fast player and someone who could have some untapped potential. Could be a cheap trade option for the Steelers.
