The Houston Texans finally made the wide receiver move the fans have been waiting for. Amid a ton of uncertainty around Tank Dell's injury and Stefon Diggs' future with the team, GM Nick Caserio made his first big move of the offseason. The Texans traded a 2026 seventh-round pick to the Jaguars for talented wide receiver Christian Kirk.
While this move has largely been praised by Texans fans so far, it doesn't bode well for one fan favorite. John Metchie III, who wasn't particularly impressive in his second full season with the Texans, may see himself in a reduced role next season.
It's a 2026 7th-round pick going to Jacksonville for Christian Kirk. The #Texans take on Christian Kirk's existing contract, which is set to pay him $16.5 million in 2025, the final year on the deal. https://t.co/NU4MqShdY1
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 6, 2025
Texans News: Christian Kirk's Arrival Complicates John Metchie's Future
It's hard to argue against this trade from a Texans perspective. They didn't give up any of their six picks in this year's draft and only sent a seventh-round selection. For a player the Jaguars were considering releasing, anything more wouldn't have made sense. The Texans now have Kirk on a one-year $16.5 million deal for next season.
Perhaps Houston will agree to a contract extension with Kirk, but as things stand now, that is a reasonable amount of salary to pay the 28-year-old. Kirk suffered a broken collarbone and missed the second half of last season but has been an effective playmaker for Jacksonville over the last three years, including in two playoff games in 2022.
In a more functional offense in Houston, Kirk could look even better than he did in Arizona and Jacksonville. He will slot in nicely as the WR2 behind Nico Collins.
This means that John Metchie will struggle to get a larger role in the final year of his contract. The former second-round pick out of Alabama has a special place in the fanbase's heart due to the adversity he has overcome in his career. He still could have a starting role if the Texans don't bring back Diggs or another receiver, but that seems unlikely right now. Considering the fact that Metchie ranked 102nd out of 133 eligible wide receivers per PFF last season, his future in Houston beyond 2025 remains murky.