By Tuesday at 3 p.m., the Houston Texans will have completed their 53-man roster for the 2024 season.
By 3:01 p.m. Tuesday, 31 more franchises could be in line to sign a starting receiver, as Houston has a large pool of pass catchers.
“I feel really good about the space we have,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Monday. “Obviously the three best guys we have are all great playmakers. But all the other guys have stepped up at some point and made plays.”
The passing attack, which ranked seventh last season, received a boost in the offseason with the signing of four-time Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs, who will step into CJ Stroud’s arsenal as a primary target alongside proven weapons like Nico Collins and Tank Dell.
Every catch from Xavier Hutchinson’s preseason game against the Rams. This man EARNS a spot on the Houston Texans roster. pic.twitter.com/HOKgZNrkjc
— Kenneth Levy (@Texans_Kenneth) 25 August 2024
Reserves like John Metchie III and Xavier Hutchinson pushed for more playing time, battling throughout practice to prove they could be more than just supporting role players.
Metchie, a former second-round pick out of Alabama, finished the game with 11 catches for 100 yards and a touchdown. He consistently won routes at the line of scrimmage and found opportunities for first-down pickups.
Hutchinson, a sixth-round pick from Iowa State in 2023, might have been any quarterback’s safety after leading the team in receptions (12) and receiving yards (114) through four games.
“(You) talk about guys like Xavier Hutchinson and just see the progress he made from year one to year two,” Ryans said. “It’s been pretty cool to see his growth and development.”
Metchie missed his entire rookie season while battling leukemia and rarely played in the 2023 season as his body worked at full speed again in the recovery process.
#Texans HC DeMeco Ryans on talented WRs: “We have a really tight WR room, a lot of guys who have made good plays. Of course, our top three guys are all big playmakers. That’s a good problem to have.” He also expressed his excitement about Xavier Hutchinson’s development and progress. pic.twitter.com/96NdgLIBPl
— Adam Wexler (@AdamJWexler) 26 August 2024
Teams are interested in the former Alabama star because he has two years of roster control left on his current contract. According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, several teams have inquired about whether Metchie would be available through a trade because Houston’s best position is receiver.
The Texans don’t seem afraid to make a move just yet while they finalize the rest of their roster. And with Diggs only on a one-year deal in Houston, Metchie could be considered a favorite to start in 2025 and be the first man off the bench in the fall.
What could separate Metchie and Hutchinson is their value on special teams. Both played over 30 percent of the snaps in the preseason and can bring experience in a variety of roles.
Ryans said Monday that special teams are essential to reducing the roster because the replacement players will play a significant number of snaps on their units. The difference between making the roster and reaching free agency could be how they fit into certain special teams roles.
“Sometimes the battle for field position is a deciding factor in winning or losing,” Ryans said. “So you need guys that can really contribute on special teams and not just be placeholders as emergency players or gap fillers. This guy has to add value to our special teams.”
OH MY GOD, METCHIE!! #HtownMade pic.twitter.com/ACcoUNhO9d
— Vicente (@thatboymaxo) 24 August 2024
Steven Sims, Ben Skowronek, Quintez Cephus, Johnny Johnson III and Noah Brown bring experience on special teams. Robert Woods offers a more experienced presence in the huddle and is under contract for this season.
If Houston were to part ways with Brown and Woods and trade for younger players like Hutchinson and Metchie, it would cost nearly $15 million in dead cap space. If the Texans were to trade the two veterans, the asking price could be at the minimum given their current contracts.
There are still three spots open for eight receivers. The calculation is simple: Houston will keep a maximum of five and place two on the practice squad.
Metchie is not eligible for waivers. Neither is Hutchinson.
Even if both are released, Ryans believes this decision is tough but understandable.
“When you have as many people as we do, it’s a really good problem to have and I’m definitely excited about the group,” Ryans said.
