Hours after sending linebacker Cameron Judge to Calgary in exchange for the rights to Canadian safety Royce Metchie, the Toronto Argonauts have signed the defensive back to a new deal, per Farhan Lalji.
Earlier today, 3Down’s own John Hodge reported that the Argos were expected to sign the pending free agent Metchie, prompting the trade of player rights between the two CFL clubs.
The 25-year-old has spent the last three seasons as a member of the Calgary Stampeders and won the starting job at safety in 2019 in his second CFL season. He made 48 defensive tackles, seven special teams tackles, and three interceptions that year in what remains his best CFL campaign.
The Guelph product suffered a bicep injury on Sept. 17, 2021 in a game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and underwent season-ending surgery. He recorded 31 tackles, one interception, and one forced fumble in seven games this past season.
Metchie was a third-round pick in the 2018 CFL Draft and has grown into one of the league’s best safeties. He was born in Lagos, Nigeria and is the older brother to Alabama receiver and future NFL draft pick John Metchie III.
The Argos started veteran American defensive back Crezdon Butler at safety in 2021, which means acquiring Metchie could be an indication that Toronto plans to change the ratio at safety in 2022 by starting a Canadian.
