Texans at crossroads with roster cuts at receiver

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 a position to land a starting-caliber receiver thanks to Houston’s depth among receivers.

“I’m really happy with the space we have,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Monday. “Obviously, the top three guys we have are all great playmakers. But all the other guys stepped up and made plays at some point.”

Last season’s seventh-ranked passing attack got a boost in the offseason with the acquisition of four-time Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs. He’ll become the primary target against proven weapons like Nico Collins and Tank Dell for C.J. Stroud’s arsenal.

Depth players like John Metchie III and Xavier Hutchinson have pushed for more playing time. They’ve fought throughout practice to prove their worth beyond being secondary role players.

Metchie, a former second-round pick out of Alabama, finished with 11 receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown. He consistently won routes at the line of scrimmage and found ways to pick up first downs.

Hutchinson, a sixth-round pick out of Iowa State in 2023, could have been every quarterback’s safety blanket after leading the team in receptions (12) and receiving yards (114) through four games.

“You talk about players like Xavier Hutchinson, you just see the progress he’s made from year one to year two,” Ryans said. “It’s really cool to see his growth and development.”

Metchie missed his entire rookie season due to leukemia. He played infrequently during the 2023 season as his body returned to full strength through the recovery process.

Teams are interested in the former Alabama star, who has two years of roster control remaining on his current deal. According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, several teams have inquired if Metchie is available via trade since the best position in Houston is receiver.

The Texans don’t seem to be hesitating to make a move yet as they finalize the rest of their roster. And with Diggs in Houston on just 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 the rest is their value on special teams. Both played more than 30 percent of the snaps in the preseason and can offer experience in a variety of roles.

Ryans said Monday that special teams are key to trimming rosters because backups will play a significant number of snaps on their units. The difference between being on a roster and becoming a free agent could be how they fit into specific team roles.

“Sometimes the battle for field position is a determining factor in winning or losing a game,” Ryans said. “So you need guys who can really step up on special teams and not just be an emergency backup or a depth backup. This guy has to add value to our special teams.”

Steven Sims, Ben Skowronek, Quintez Cephus, Johnny Johnson III and Noah Brown have special teams experience. Robert Woods provides a more experienced presence in the group and is under contract through this season.

If Houston were to part with Brown and Woods for younger players like Hutchinson and Metchie, it would cost them nearly $15 million in free agency. If the Texans traded both veterans, the asking price could be at the bare minimum given their current contracts.

There are three spots left for eight receivers still in the running. The math is simple: Houston will, at most, keep five and keep two on the practice squad.

Metchie is not eligible for the waiver. Neither is Hutchinson.

Even though both are released, Ryans sees the decision as a harsh but understandable choice.

“When you have as many players as we have, it’s a really good problem and I’m really excited about the group,” Ryans said.

This article was originally published on Texans Wire: Texans at crossroads with roster cuts at receiver space