The Atlanta Falcons have $7.67 Million in 2024 cap space (3rd least in the NFL) now that the cornerback A.J.Terrell extension, strong safety Justin Simmons free agency signing, & outside linebacker Matthew Judon trade are signed, sealed, delivered: they’re ours. But wait, there’s more!
Logic says GM Terry Fontenot has been writing checks. He has and is spending well, with the least 2024 dead money in the NFL after having inherited record-breaking debt.
“Win Now”? Spend it.
Where? Wide Receiver.
Who? Let’s Discuss
John Metchie III, WR, Houston Texans
- 6’0, 195
- 24 Years Old
Sources: Multiple teams have reached out to the #Texans 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 team are keeping a close eye.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) August 26, 2024
The former 2nd-round pick out of… pic.twitter.com/2CmV2nMrbY
Had it not been for his time away after his diagnosis, we wouldn’t be looking at this stacked depth chart and wondering where Metchie fits now.
This isn’t your average WR4 league-wide just because he’s hanging out with Stefon Diggs (All-Pro), Nico Collins (1,300 yards in 2023), & Tank Dell (leading all rookies in receiving categories before injury last year).
Metchie’s final two years under Nick Saban at Alabama show voluminous production when healthy, averaging 1,000+ yards a season.
Metchie’s 2024 preseason establishes further encouragement. These numbers align with his 9.9 YPC average in 2023 before his cancer diagnosis.
So what will it take? For $2.2M in 2024, Metchie is no better than WR2 on this Falcons team and no worse than WR3.
Other Names to Watch
- Tim Patrick
WELCOME BACK TIM PATRICK
— DNVR Broncos (@DNVR_Broncos) August 19, 2024
Bo ➡️ TP
pic.twitter.com/MDUizqIECF
It’s easy to understand why the Denver fan favorite is exciting on the field, having turned in back-to-back 50+ catch, 700+ yard seasons in 2020-2021. From a market perspective, the Steelers are already continuing their wide receiver market pursuit (Brandon Aiyuk) with Metchie & Patrick.
The question marks here are a $ 7+ million cap hit for 2024 where someone has to pay the bill and season-ending injuries in 2022 (ACL) and 2023 (Achilles).
- Donovan Peoples-Jones
A 60+ catch, 800+ yard season in 2022 could warrant a phone call, particularly considering the most money he’s made in his five-year career is $1.3 Million.
