Who Should I Start? Treylon Burks or John Metchie III

Thursday, May 1, 7:14 PM

As expected, the Tennessee Titans officially did not pick up the fifth-year option for the 2026 season on wide receiver Treylon Burks (knee). The fifth-year option would have guaranteed Burks $15.493 million for the 2026 season, which is way too much to give a player that has missed significant time due to injury in his first three NFL seasons after he was taken 18th overall in 2022 out of Arkansas. The 25-year-old wideout tore the ACL in his knee in Week 6 of last year, too, and isn't expected to be ready for the start of the 2025 season this fall. Not much should be expected of him when he's able to return this year, especially after Tennessee added veterans Tyler Lockett and Van Jefferson in free agency this offseason. It 27 total games played (17 starts) over three seasons, Burks has just 53 catches on 92 targets for 699 yards and only one touchdown. He'll be an unrestricted free agent after the 2025 season.

Thursday, May 1, 12:17 AM

The Houston Chronicle's Jonathan M. Alexander projects Houston Texans wide receiver John Metchie III to be left off the 53-man roster entering the start of the 2025 season this fall after the team added receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel in last week's draft. Houston also added Christian Kirk, Justin Watson and Braxton Berrios in free agency this offseason, creating a lot of competition for the 24-year-old, who has battled injuries and a cancer scare to produce just 40 catches for 412 yards and one touchdown since being drafted in the second round (44th overall) in 2022 out of Alabama. Alexander expects Metchie, Xavier Hutchinson, Berrios and Watson to be battling for the final two receiver spots this summer behind Higgins, Kirk and Nico Collins. Metchie is entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2025 and could be a trade candidate if it's clear he's not going to make the roster.