Panthers, Chargers Could Benefit From Second-Round Pick’s Breakout

Texans wide receiver John Metchie had a breakout performance in Week 10’s loss to the Detroit Lions, and his emergence could inadvertently signal the end of the Stefon Diggs Era in Houston. A second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Metchie originally joined a talent-poor Texans squad trying to rebound from losing franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson. Unfortunately, he never had a chance to prove himself as a rookie, as he missed his inaugural season after being diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia.

Metchie battled this diagnosis and returned to the field in 2023 but only played a depth role. Stuck behind Nico Collins and third-round pick Tank Dell, the Alabama product recorded 16 receptions for 158 yards while working his way back to full strength. Houston acquired Stefon Diggs in the following offseason, burying Metchie on the depth chart and preventing him from earning a role in the passing attack.

However, now two years removed from his cancer diagnosis and with Diggs sidelined from the season, John Metchie finally has a chance to breakout. The wide receiver was easily the best player on Houston’s offense yesterday, recording five receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown. If he can keep this up, he could join Collins and Dell to give Houston three homegrown threats at wide receiver. This likely means Stefon Diggs will not return in 2025, which could benefit a needy team like the Carolina Panthers or Los Angeles Chargers.

Panthers, Chargers Could Land Stefon Diggs After John Metchie Breakout

The Carolina Panthers will enter another rebuild in 2025, but they appear to have two young foundational players in wide receivers Xavier Legette and undrafted free agent Jalen Coker. Perhaps neither guy will make it to the Hall of Fame, but both players have shown they can make plays under head coach Dave Canales and should positively influence whoever is under center next year. However, these players lack experience, and adding someone like Stefon Diggs to the mix could help both on and off the field.

This signing will only work if Diggs accepts his 100-catch seasons are a thing of the past. The wide receiver will be in his age-32 season next year and likely won’t be able to match his previous level of play as he returns from his season-ending ACL injury. These factors will drive down his cost on the open market, which is good news for a Panthers team with holes scattered throughout the roster. So long as Diggs can accept being the second or third option in the passing attack, the wide receiver’s veteran knowledge should be a net positive for Leggette, Coker, and next year’s quarterback.

Rebounding With Herbert

Stefon Diggs is a great player but, as mentioned above, teams will not invest in an injured player on the wrong side of 30. The John Metchie breakout means Diggs will probably sign somewhere else next year, and he might have to settle for a one-year, prove-it deal. If that happens, it’s hard to envision a better fit than the Los Angeles Chargers. Second-round pick Ladd McConkey is the real deal, and 2023 first-round pick Quentin Johnston is showing some life. However, the team has nothing behind these two, and adding a veteran like Stefon Diggs in free agency could elevate this team in 2024.

After an injury-riddled start to the season, Justin Herbert has been arguably the NFL’s best quarterback for the past month or two. Making insane throws on a regular basis, the Chargers franchise quarterback is turning guys like Will Dissly, Joshua Palmer, and Jalen Reagor into valuable parts of the passing attack. Even if Diggs never recaptures his 2020 form, he should be an upgrade on the current depth and should thrive with an elite passer like Herbert throwing the ball.