By Tuesday at 3 p.m., the Houston Texans will have finalized their 53-man roster for the 2024 season.
By 3:01 p.m. Tuesday, 31 other franchises could be in line to land a starting-caliber receiver thanks to the depth among Houston’s pass-catchers.
“I feel really good about the room that we have,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Monday. “Of course, the top three guys that we have are all big-time playmakers. But all the other guys have stepped up and made plays at some point.”
Last season’s seventh-ranked passing attack received a jolt in the offseason with the acquisition of four-time Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs. He’ll take over as a primary target opposite proven weapons like Nico Collins and Tank Dell for C.J. Stroud’s arsenal.
Every catch from Xavier Hutchinson's preseason game against the Rams. This man has EARNED a roster spot on the Houston Texans. pic.twitter.com/HOKgZNrkjc
— Kenneth Levy (@Texans_Kenneth) August 25, 2024
Depth players like John Metchie III and Xavier Hutchinson pushed to see more playing time. They fought throughout practice to prove their value beyond being secondary roleplayers.
Metchie, a former second-round pick out of Alabama, finished with 11 catches for 100 yards and a touchdown. He constantly won routes at the line of scrimmage and found avenues for first-down pickups.
Hutchinson, a 2023 sixth-round pick from Iowa State, might have been every quarterback’s security blanket after leading the team in receptions (12) and receiving yards (114) in four games.
“[You] talk about guys like Xavier Hutchinson, just seeing the progress he’s made from year one to year two,” Ryans said. “It’s been pretty cool to see his growth and see his development.”
Metchie missed his entire rookie season as he was battling leukemia. He played seldom during the 2023 season as his body was working back to full speed through the recovery process.
#Texans HC DeMeco Ryans on talented WRs, "We have a really tight WR room, have a lot of guys who made plays. Of course the top 3 guys we have are all big time playmakers. That's a good problem to have." He also noted his excitement for Xavier Hutchinson's development & progress. pic.twitter.com/96NdgLIBPl
— Adam Wexler (@AdamJWexler) August 26, 2024
Teams are interested in the former Alabama star with two years of roster control left on his current contract. According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, multiple teams have inquired to see if Metchie was available through trade since Houston’s best position is receiver.
The Texans don’t seem coy to pull a move yet as they finalize the rest of their roster. And with Diggs only in Houston on a one-year deal, Metchie could be considered the favorite to start in 2025 while being the first man off the bench this fall.
What could separate Metchie and Hutchinson from others is their value on speical teams. Both played over 30 percent of snaps during the preseason and can offer experience in various roles.
Ryans said Monday that special teams are essential to roster cutdown since backups will play a significant number of snaps on their units. The difference between making a roster and hitting free agency could be how they fit into specific speical team roles.
“Sometimes that’s a huge determinator in winning and losing games is that field position battle,” Ryans said. “So you need guys who can really step up on special teams and not just be a placeholder as an emergency guy or a depth filler. That guy has to add value on our special teams.”
OMG METCHIE!! #HtownMade pic.twitter.com/ACcoUNhO9d
— Vicente (@thatboymaxo) August 24, 2024
Steven Sims, Ben Skowronek, Quintez Cephus, Johnny Johnson III and Noah Brown come with experience on speical teams. Robert Woods offers a more veteran presence in the huddle and is under contract for this season.
Should Houston part ways with both Brown and Woods for younger pieces like Hutchinson and Metchie, it would cost nearly $15 million in dead cap space. Should the Texans trade the two veterans, the asking price could be at the minimum given their current contracts.
Three spots remain for eight receivers still alive. The math is simple: Houston, at most, will keep five and stow two away on the practice squad.
Metchie isn’t clearing waivers. Neither is Hutchinson.
Even if both are released, Ryans considers this decision a rigorous but understandable choice.
“When you have as many guys as we have, it’s a really good problem and I’m definitely excited about the group,” said Ryans.
