The NFL preseason is rolling on, but that doesn’t mean teams aren’t still looking to upgrade their rosters. The defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles are one of those teams, and they recently pulled off a trade to bolster their offense.
Eagles Make Move for WR John Metchie III, Beat 49ers to the Punch
The Eagles have one of the league’s best receiving corps led by A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Jahan Dotson.
Most teams would be content with that group, but Philadelphia recently pulled off a trade with the Houston Texans for fourth-year receiver John Metchie III, beating out the San Francisco 49ers in the process.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz was the first to post about the trade news. After Brown and Smith, Dotson is the WR3 in Philadelphia, so GM Howie Roseman decided to add another body to the room.
BREAKING: The #Texans are trading WR John Metchie III to the #Eagles, per multiple sources. pic.twitter.com/CUHVzPnBeU
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) August 17, 2025
Metchie was a second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and sat out his entire rookie season to battle leukemia. He returned to the field in 2023 and played in 18 games, including the playoffs, for the Texans. Last year, he played in 15 games, including the playoffs, posting 30 receptions, 317 yards, and one touchdown.
Schultz also reported that the 49ers were interested in acquiring Metchie, but didn’t make as strong an offer as the Eagles. He posted, “Sources: The #49ers were the other team trying to trade for John Metchie III. But the #Eagles made a better offer.”
Metchie Trade Terms
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reposted the terms of the trade, which include a Day 3 pick swap and tight end Harrison Bryant going from Philadelphia to Houston.
Compensation update: https://t.co/LTwMPV1N65
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 17, 2025
Bryant was a fourth-round pick by the Cleveland Browns in the 2020 NFL Draft. He spent the first four years of his career in Cleveland before landing with the Las Vegas Raiders last season.
In 81 career games, including the playoffs, Bryant has totaled 102 receptions, 942 yards, and 10 touchdowns. He’s coming off a down season with the Raiders, totaling just nine catches and 86 yards.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero added context to the trade terms, writing, “Time is a flat circle: The #Eagles and #Texans each reacquired their own 2026 draft picks, exchanged in the C.J. Gardner-Johnson trade, as part of today’s deal that sends WR John Metchie III to Philadelphia and TE Harrison Bryant to Houston.”
Metchie is entering the final year of his rookie contract and will compete with Dotson to earn a meaningful spot in Philadelphia’s WR rotation. He was likely on his way out in Houston, and the Texans decided to get something for Metchie before releasing him on final cut day.
The fourth-year pro now gets a chance for a fresh start on a loaded Eagles squad.
