According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the New York Jets are not expected to tender wide receiver John Metchie as a restricted free agent. If that decision holds, Metchie would become an unrestricted free agent and free to sign with any team once the league year begins.
RFA
It is important to note that declining to tender Metchie does not mean the Jets cannot bring him back. The team would simply be choosing not to extend the restricted free agent tender, which comes with a preset salary and potential draft compensation if another team signs the player. By not issuing the tender, the Jets would allow Metchie to reach free agency, but they could still attempt to re-sign him to a different contract if there is mutual interest.
Metchie joined the Jets last season in a trade and appeared in seven games while starting several contests as injuries reshaped the receiver room. In that span, he recorded 29 receptions for 256 yards and two touchdowns while showing flashes of the quickness and route running that made him a highly regarded prospect coming out of college.
College Career
Before entering the NFL, Metchie built a strong reputation at Alabama. Playing in one of the most loaded offenses in college football, he emerged as one of the Crimson Tide’s most reliable targets. During his final season in Tuscaloosa, he caught 96 passes for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns.
John Metchie Cancer Diagnosis
His journey to the NFL included a much bigger challenge than football. Shortly after being drafted in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans, Metchie was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia. The diagnosis forced him to miss his entire rookie season while undergoing treatment.
Metchie eventually made a successful return to football after beating cancer, becoming one of the league’s most inspiring comeback stories. The Jets later acquired him in a trade as they looked to add young depth to the wide receiver group.
Free Agency
Now 25 years old, John Metchie could still draw interest from teams looking for a young receiver with upside. Whether that includes the Jets remains to be seen, but if the report proves accurate, the decision not to tender him would simply allow both sides to explore their options in free agency.
