Former Patriots wide receiver Jakobi Meyers agreed to terms with Raiders, team source says Athleticism. Here’s what you need to know:
- Meyers will sign a three-year contract worth up to $33 million, including $21 million in guaranteed money.
- Meyers caught a career-high 67 passes for 804 and six touchdowns with the Patriots in 2022.
- The 6-foot-2 receiver signed with New England as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He caught 235 career passes for 2,758 career yards, leading the Patriots in yards the past three seasons .
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How Meyers will fit in Las Vegas
Meyers will step in as the No. 2 starting outside receiver across from superstar receiver Davante Adams. He effectively replaces Mack Hollins, who held the position last season. Hollins played pretty well — he caught 57 passes for 690 yards and four touchdowns — but the Raiders are betting Meyers’ ceiling is even higher. He’s a smaller receiver at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, but he’s a better road runner and has a more solid grasp of the system.
And, just like Hollins did, Meyers will benefit from the fact that defenses can’t grab him much. When teams have to factor in Adams, tight end Darren Waller and slot receiver Hunter Renfrow in the passing game and running back Josh Jacobs on the ground, it will be easy for Meyers to slip through the cracks. net. After being the Patriots’ No. 1 receiver in a limited receiving corps for the past two seasons, it will be more freedom than he has enjoyed in some time. — Reed
Impact on season outlook
The Raiders already had some of the best receiving talent in the league, but they now have one of the strongest receiving units in the league. There aren’t many better lines than Adams, Renfrow and Meyers, and that’s before you even factor in Waller, who is basically used as another receiver when separated. If all goes well, Meyers will be a ceiling lifter that will make the group virtually unstoppable to cover on a case-by-case basis.
Meyers isn’t known for his speed — he ran a 4.63-second 40-yard dash at the combine — but he’s adept at finding space to exploit in zone coverage and creating a Separation of defenders in man cover. Given that quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo isn’t one to push the ball down the field very often, Meyers’ strengths will likely outweigh his inability to stretch the field vertically. All in all, it makes a lot of sense for where the offense is headed. — Reed
Should the Patriots have kept him?
It’s surprising the Patriots let their best wide receiver since Julian Edelman walk on a contract they could easily have matched. Meyers was the only regular receiver on their ineffective offense a year ago, and now they find themselves in a tough spot without him. At the moment, Tyquan Thornton is the Patriots’ only contracted receiver in 2024. Either that sets up something big for Bill Belichick (perhaps via trade) or it’s a very questionable move. — graffiti
Screening report
The undrafted 26-year-old has put himself in a position to enjoy his outstanding performances over the past three years. Meyers entered free agency as the wide receiver market exploded — and into a class of free agents where he may be the best at his job. It’s also another connection to former Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who is entering his second season as Raiders head coach.
The Patriots wanted him back after leading the team in receiving yards for three straight seasons. And without him, the team’s large reception room seems rather gloomy at the moment.
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