John Metchie, Jets
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Former New York Jets wide receiver John Metchie reacting after an NFL game against the Miami Dolphins.
ANew York Jets pass catcher is seeking greener pastures.
ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter revealed that wide receiver John Metchie is signing a one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers in free agency.
ESPN’s Rich Cimini said the Jets had “some interest” in bringing him back this offseason.
The Jets Let Metchie Test the Open Waters
Metchie, 25, will turn 26 before the start of the 2026 season.
He was originally acquired by the Jets ahead of the NFL trade deadline in a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2025.
The former Alabama product appeared in nine games and made seven starts. With those opportunities, Metchie finished with 29 receptions on 44 targets for 256 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Before free agency, the Jets had a chance to tender Metchie at a variety of levels. The cheapest tender would have been a one-year deal for $3.5 million. That would have made Metchie a restricted free agent. The Jets would have had the right of first refusal.
However, the team opted not to tender him, which made Metchie an unrestricted free agent. If the Jets had an interest in bringing him back, as Cimini mentioned, then they would have attempted to do so at a cheaper rate than $3.5 million on a one-year deal.
This is a developing story and we’ll provide new details as they become available.