John Metchie

Metchie, a second-round pick out of Alabama in 2022, never got on the field after being diagnosed with leukemia last summer. The 22-year-old overcame the illness and participated in a voluntary late-April camp in preparation for normal offseason activities and training camp. With Brandin Cooks traded and Nico Collins still needing to prove himself, there's an opportunity for Metchie and the team's other young wideouts to see ample playing time. Metchie was expected to be a significant part of the offense last season, but there are no guarantees for 2023, particularly with a new offensive brain trust in place.

Metchie landed in the right place to get snaps and targets, but he's expected to miss his rookie season after being diagnosed with leukemia in July. On top of that, he's coming back from the ACL tear that ended his college career Dec. 4. Prior to that, he had 2,058 yards and 14 TDs in his final two seasons at Alabama. Despite playing two fewer games than first-round pick Jameson Williams last year, Metchie finished with 15 more targets than his admittedly more-explosive teammate (Williams had 430 more yards than Metchie nonetheless). The Texans took Metchie at No. 44 overall, and he could be in the mix for a starting job next year if everything goes well with his leukemia treatment, as expected.