The Texans have agreed to terms on a four-year contract with second-round wide receiver John Metchie III, according to a league source.
It's an $8.07 million contract that includes $3.049 million signing bonus.
They drafted the Alabama wide receiver in the second round with the 44th overall selection after trading a third-round selection (No. 68 overall), and two fourth-round selections (No. 108 overall and No. 124 overall).
Metchie, who visited the Texans before the NFL draft, is coming off a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered in the conference title game.
Metchie emphasized he will be ready and fully ready for all activities for training camp. He has already resumed running.
"As far as the recovery, I will be good to play football in July. I will be good to go, no training wheels," Metchie said. "I have been running already for the last couple months. Cutting, jumping, doing all those types of things. When I say I will be ready to go in July, it's full-go football."
He was a projected first-round draft pick prior to the injury. He caught 96 passes for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns last season.
Texans general manager Nick Caserio praised Metchie heavily.
Caserio also downplayed his timetable for getting on the field and being fully cleared to play.
"His story is probably as unique as anybody in the draft, very worldly, I mean, this kid is an awesome kid, very smart, very studious, tough as nails," Caserio said. "Some of the things that he did at Alabama and some of the things he endured and played with, just no normal people would do it. This guy's level of toughness is exceptional. He was a really, really productive player for them and has some position versatility. I know there's questions. When is he going to be ready? When is he going to be available?
"I wouldn't put too much stock in what he said. I think when he is ready, he is ready. Whenever that is, it is. We're not going to rush or push him. When he is ready and physically able, we feel that it's the right thing to do, then he will be on the field. Until then he will do everything he can to get himself to that point. I certainly wouldn't put any time table on it or any expectation on it. When he is ready, he will be ready, but another player that I would say we like probably as much as any football player in the draft. When you watch him play, he plays a receiver with a mindset mentality that I would say is a little bit different.
In 2020, Metchie started 11 games when Jaylen Waddle got hurt and caught 55 passes for 916 yards and six touchdowns.
A former four-star recruit, he was cleared to play football after being diagnosed with a slightly enlarged heart in high school.
Now,
"It's an honor," Metchie said of becoming the latest Alabama wide receiver to be drafted. "It's the standard for Alabama football. It's an honor to finally become one of the guys."
Aaron Wilson is a Pro Football Network reporter and analyst and a contributor to Sports Talk 790.