New England Worked Out Former Alabama star John Metchie

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John Metchie III

Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots love players from the Alabama Crimson Tide football show. Mac Jones and Christian Barmore continued the long road between the top college program and Foxborough last season.

It seems safe to assume we’ll likely see at least one more Nick Saban player brought in by the Patriots in the 2022 NFL Draft. Will one of the next Crimson-Tide guys to film the Patriots be John Metchie III?

Looks like seeds are being planted. The Patriots invited Metchie to a training session on April 12, and the 21-year-old commented on the prospect of reuniting with Mac Jones, his college defender in 2020.

John Metchie is recovering from a serious knee injury

Metchie tore his ACL net in the SEC Championship against eventual National Champion Georgia in December, so there are questions about his readiness once the 2022 NFL season begins.

While the Patriots have secured DeVante Parker in a deal with AFC East rivals Miami Dolphins, New England still needs more help from the recipient. Adding a young and talented player like Metchie would probably give the team more depth in a needed position.

Metchie had a strong season before the injury

Before Metchie tore the ACL net, he was just about to end a sparkling season with Alabama. He made 96 1,142-yard passes and 8 TDs in 2021 as a junior before he beat the Bulldogs.

It was a marked improvement in his strong second season at Alabama as he caught passes from Jones and played a second time for DeVonta Smith.

In 2020, Jones and Metchie connected 55 times with 916 yards and 6 times TD. With college combinations like Tua Tagovailoa and Jaylen Waddle as well as Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase having been successful in the NFL, it wouldn’t be a shock to see the Patriots try to explore their own brand of college chemistry. academic and professional symmetry with Jones and Metchie.

The NFL Scout Room Bleacher report likens Metchie to former Kansas City boss Byron Pringle, who signed with the Chicago Bears this season. In Metchie’s scouting report, the B/R expert said Metchie could become a Day 1 contributor if he is fit enough to compete. However, there are some concerns when it comes to his size (5’11” 187 pounds).

“Metchie has good hands and is capable of dropping down with spectacular catches,” according to the B/R article. “But his average size will increase when trying to catch a crowd of players. defenders, and some will drop when catching a dispute. He can make himself feel like a minor target for full-backs in tight spaces. Overall, Metchie could contribute on Day 1 (injury pending) to most NFL fouls as a Z receiver who can collide inside and out thanks to his comprehensive skill set and space feeling. But his lack of size and fitness better than good will limit his potential as a real force. He can still be a very useful and stable player to attack well. ”

According to B/R, Metchie was seen as a third-round pick. The Patriots now have an 85th overall pick. Preventing Metchie from suddenly sliding/rising or the Patriots adding a third pick if they trade back, that’s when New England is more likely to pick the former Alabama star.

If the Patriots add Metchie, the Patriots’ WR depth chart suddenly looks promising. Parker, Jakobi Meyers, Kendrick Bourne, Nelson Agholor, and Metchie are a pretty solid mix of weapons for Jones, and that’s not including nimble runback options like Rhamondre Stevenson, James White, or tight finishers. as closely as Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith.

Maybe we’re about to see a more powerful Patriot attack in 2022.

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