The Philadelphia Eagles are no strangers to taking risks both in the offseason and during the year, as general manager Howie Roseman has earned an excellent reputation being perhaps the best general manager in the entire sport.
That's led to some swings and misses over the last decade, but Roseman at least does his due diligence. Monday's unexpected trade for Houston Texans wide receiver John Metchie III represents the latest example of Roseman's efforts, and we saw a similar example with the Jahan Dotson acquisition last year.
Fortunately for Metchie, one of his new coach's latest comments all but guaranteed that he'll make the roster.
#Eagles OC Kevin Patullo says new WR John Metchie adds to depth and competition in room. And with regards to injuries during the season: “We’re going to need as many bodies as possible.” pic.twitter.com/cPajKBq6Cs
— Martin Frank (@Mfranknfl) August 19, 2025
Eagles Coach All but Guarantees New WR John Metchie Will Make Roster
Philadelphia offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo spoke to the media on Tuesday following the trade, noting that Metchie adds depth and competition to the position group, especially considering the inevitability of injuries throughout the regular season.
"We're going to need as many bodies as possible," Patullo said. It's hardly a significant sign of praise for Metchie, but it is an indication at least that the organization intends to keep him on the 53-man roster.
Originally a second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft by Houston, Metchie was a dominant college player at Alabama but was diagnosed with leukemia. He's fully recovered and has made an impressive comeback, which speaks to his resilience and suggests Roseman may have found a diamond in the rough. If Metchie hadn't suffered through his health issues, he wouldn't have been traded for a backup tight end.
That he was speaks to the upside with this deal, and it's clear that Patullo wants to give him a chance. Metchie has just 40 catches for 412 yards and one TD during his career, spread out over two seasons, but the Eagles could really use him. A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are the alphas in the pass-catching group, though there's space to become the third option.
Dotson hasn't been impressive, then there's Johnny Wilson, Terrace Marshall Jr., Darius Cooper, and Alainis Smith, among others. Metchie has better collegiate production and a superior physical profile than all of those guys, so it's easy to envision this being another example of Roseman turning "trash" into legitimate treasure.
We'll see what happens, but fans should watch Metchie closely over the next couple of weeks before the regular-season opener.