03-11-2026, 06:13 PM -
Former TEAMMATE of Bryce Young at Alabama. 
![[Image: n1rt5l7oploduojizb4h.jpg]](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_editorial_landscape_12_desktop_2x/f_auto/panthers/n1rt5l7oploduojizb4h.jpg)
https://www.panthers.com/news/panthers-a...ree-agency
CHARLOTTE — The Panthers made a quick move to add some speed on offense Wednesday.
The team has agreed to terms with former Jets wide receiver John Metchie III.
Metchie wasn't tendered by the Jets as a restricted free agent, making him available after the start of the new league year.
He was a teammate of Panthers quarterback Bryce Young at Alabama, so there's an immediate familiarity there.
But there's also a deep speed element that the Panthers were looking for. He was a sub-4.5-second 40 guy in college, helping him to a 16.7 yards per catch number in 2020 (when Young was backing up Mac Jones). When Young was starting in 2021, Metchie had a team-high 96 catches for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns.
Metchie was picked in the second round of the 2022 draft by the Texans, but missed his rookie season after being diagnosed with leukemia. He made his debut in 2023 and had 16 catches for 158 yards.
He was traded to the Eagles last August and traded to the Jets in October, and now has a chance for a fresh start with a familiar face.

![[Image: n1rt5l7oploduojizb4h.jpg]](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_editorial_landscape_12_desktop_2x/f_auto/panthers/n1rt5l7oploduojizb4h.jpg)
https://www.panthers.com/news/panthers-a...ree-agency
CHARLOTTE — The Panthers made a quick move to add some speed on offense Wednesday.
The team has agreed to terms with former Jets wide receiver John Metchie III.
Metchie wasn't tendered by the Jets as a restricted free agent, making him available after the start of the new league year.
He was a teammate of Panthers quarterback Bryce Young at Alabama, so there's an immediate familiarity there.
But there's also a deep speed element that the Panthers were looking for. He was a sub-4.5-second 40 guy in college, helping him to a 16.7 yards per catch number in 2020 (when Young was backing up Mac Jones). When Young was starting in 2021, Metchie had a team-high 96 catches for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns.
Metchie was picked in the second round of the 2022 draft by the Texans, but missed his rookie season after being diagnosed with leukemia. He made his debut in 2023 and had 16 catches for 158 yards.
He was traded to the Eagles last August and traded to the Jets in October, and now has a chance for a fresh start with a familiar face.
This post was last modified: 03-11-2026, 06:15 PM by PantherFan007.

