John Metchie III was once considered a top wide receiver prospect for the Alabama Crimson Tide. A torn ACL in the 2021 SEC Championship Game, though, curtailed any hope of being a high draft pick in the NFL.

Now, the 25-year-old is going to be on his fourth team in five seasons.

After a short stint with the Houston Texans, when he struggled to stay on the field, Metchie bounced around from the Philadelphia Eagles to the New York Jets last season.

Jordan Shultz of FOX Sports reported Thursday afternoon that Metchie’s time with New York is coming to an end. The team will not be placing a tender on the fifth-year wideout and restricted free agent, making him eligible to hit the open market.

Free agent breakdown

In his first two seasons playing, Metchie found different moments to make a mark for a Texans team that drafted him in the second round. The 44th overall pick in 2022 caught 40 passes for 412 yards and a single touchdown.

He was traded to the Eagles before the start of the regular season, but failed to make much of an impact in an offense whose targets were dominated by A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.

After just seven games, Metchie was on his third team in a matter of months — shipped to the Jets for cornerback Michael Carter II and a fifth-round pick. During his short stint with New York, Metchie recorded arguably his best run in the NFL.

Metchie’s 256 yards receiving, two touchdowns, and 29 receptions were among the most recorded by a Jets receiver in the final nine games of the regular season. Despite being a net positive for the team in the final few weeks, an RFA tender would have cost the Jets over $3.5 million.

That’s a price the organization simply didn’t want to pay.

Now, Metchie hits the open market, and the Jets must find more receiver help.

Jets’ receiver needs

Metchie was not going to solve some of the key issues of New York’s passing offense. Last season, the Jets failed to record 150 passing yards in six games, and in four of those games, they failed to record 100.

That ineptitude had more to do with the team’s quarterback struggles than anything else. But it didn’t help that the organization had little consistency at receiver, either.

The Jets are expected to carry special teams ace Isaiah Williams and fellow deadline acquisition Adonai Mitchell, to go along with Garrett Wilson. Outside of that, the team is expected to target wide receivers heavily in both free agency and the draft.

Luckily for New York, there are plenty of targets for the team to choose from.

In free agency, the likes of Romeo Doubs, Darnell Mooney, and Jauan Jennings are logical fits for Gang Green’s passing offense. In the draft, the likes of USC standout Makai Lemon, Washington’s Denzel Boston, and Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson are all names that have been tied to the team.

There are plenty of ways the Jets can upgrade their passing attack.

Metchie, though, will be given a chance to find a new home elsewhere. And while the once standout star for Alabama may be struggling to make his mark in the NFL, there’s hope that with the right team and quarterback, he can prove he belongs.