John Metchie could be solid addition to Jaguars’ WR corps in 3rd round

The Jacksonville Jaguars have been meeting with prospects as part of the predraft process. While they’ve spent the last few months watching tape and know what they bring to the table from a physical/skill standpoint, talking to them in a one-on-one setting can give them a better picture  their goals, personality traits, their working habits, and any potential red flags. John Metchie will be the first wide receiver they bring in for a visit in the weeks preceding the 2022 NFL Draft.

Insider Jordan Schultz reports the Jaguars will be hosting Metchie Thursday. The former Crimson Tide wide receiver will also meet with the New England Patriots and the Buffalo Bills. His visit with the Pats doesn’t come as a surprise when you take into account that he and quarterback Mac Jones were teammates at Alabama. Last season, Metchie hauled in 96 receptions for 1,142 yards with eight touchdowns. However, he suffered an ACL injury in the SEC Championship game and may have to spend a good chunk of training camp recovering, which in turn could limit his contributions as a rookie.

Eric Edholm of Yahoo! Sports sees Metchie as a possible second-round with starting potential. However, he’s a better bet to go in the third round. While he can line up in the slot and out wide, he doesn’t have elite speed or explosion. Also, he’s not a physical route-runner who lacks strong hands. Nate Tice of the Bleacher Report scouting department believes he can contribute from Day 1 but believes his “more-solid-than-good athleticism” may limit his impact.

"Overall, Metchie can be a contributor on Day 1 (pending injury) for most NFL offenses as a Z receiver who can bump inside and out because of his well-rounded skillset and feel for space. But his lack of size and more-solid-than-good athleticism will limit his potential upside as a true force. He can still be a very useful and steady player for a good offense."

The Jaguars could wait until the 3rd round to draft a wide receiver.

Even though the Jaguars signed Christian Kirk and Zay Jones in free agency, they could still bolster their wide receiver corps in the draft. Using their second-round pick, the 33rd overall, to take someone like Jameson Williams (if available), David Bell or George Pickens would make sense. On the other hand, Jacksonville could wait until the third round to select one. That’s where Metchie is projected to go.

The Jags have shown interest in Georgia linebacker Quay Walker and if they want to draft him, it might need to be in the second round, as he will probably be gone by the third. If they do take Walker, they could use one of their two third-round picks to take a wide receiver. The one thing the Jaguars can’t do is neglect the position.

In spite of the additions of Kirk and Jones, the Jaguars still need to keep adding weapons to Trevor Lawrence’s arsenal. The offense (and the defense) are in need of as many playmakers as possible and the team’s brass will have the chance to take a few with their 12 draft picks. If they want to take a wide receiver but want to prioritize other positions in the second round, Metchie should be someone they should consider in the third if they are willing to way for him to make an impact.