John Metchie is forcing his way into the Jets’ 2026 WR plans

When the New York Jets acquired John Metchie III from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for Michael Carter II, they were getting a lottery ticket. Carter was a distressed asset, with injuries sapping his performance and big money due in 2026 and 2027, as well as a potential out after this year if he didn't turn it around. That wasn't going to net much, and Metchie was the best the Jets could have hoped for.

Coming out of Alabama, Metchie tantalized with a varied skill set, with Pro Football Focus (subscription required) drawing comparisons to long-time NFL stalwarts Marvin Jones and Randall Cobb based on measurables and collegiate performance. That gave him legitimate WR2 upside, but things quickly unraveled.

In addition to suffering a torn ACL in the 2021 SEC Championship Game, the promising receiver was diagnosed with leukemia shortly after being drafted. Those obstacles led to him being squeezed out in Houston and Philadelphia, and put a question mark on his long-term value.

His performance over the last two weeks is turning that question mark into an exclamation point as he is forcing his way into the Jets' 2026 plans.

John Metchie is forcing the issue and ensuring he will be a part of the Jets' future

Typically speaking, it takes some time for wide receivers to get up to speed following a midseason trade. There's a new playbook to learn, chemistry to develop with an unfamiliar QB, and the adaptation to a new team and culture that stands in the way of quick acclimation.

However, after a brief cameo in his first game in Green and White against the Cleveland Browns, Metchie has hit the ground running. In Week 11 against the New England Patriots, he caught all three of his targets, going for 45 yards and a touchdown.

As a follow-up, he caught six of seven passes in his direction for 65 yards and yet another touchdown in Sunday's loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

What's interesting is the varied ways he's already begun to contribute. Against New England, he was used primarily in the slot, logging 58.3% of his snaps there versus 37.5% out wide. Taking on Baltimore, it was the opposite, with him lining up outside 65.6% of the time against 34.4% of his reps coming in the slot.

Furthermore, he was targeted downfield more often against New England, posting a 10.7-yard average depth of target, versus the safety blanket role he played against the Ravens, with an average depth of target of just 4.3 yards.

With that, he showed he can produce in either role, averaging 7.0 YAC/reception against Baltimore while being sure-handed on the deeper throws against the Patriots. Of his 10 catches as a Jet, seven have gone for first downs.

Small sample size aside, Metchie has produced 1.98 yards per route run since the trade, a mark that would be just outside the top-15 wide receivers who qualify with a minimum of 57 targets. He's also yielded an eye-popping 149.1 passer rating when targeted since arriving in New York.

Nearly all of this production has come without Garrett Wilson or any other established and credible receiving threat opposite him. That makes you wonder what he can really do if the defense opens up even more for him, especially given his work underneath.

The Jets will have an easy time keeping him in the fold next season, thanks to his status as a restricted free agent. If he keeps this up the rest of the way, he'll be a major part of the revamped offense Darren Mougey is surely to construct for 2026.