Jakobi Meyers was one of the top receiving options on the open market coming into the 2023 NFL offseason. The New England Patriots — the team that developed him from undrafted free agent to reliable starter — had a clear need at wideout.
But Meyers didn’t return to New England, even after his market value dipped to a reasonable three-year, $33 million contract. Instead, he latched on with the Las Vegas Raiders and former offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who is the current head coach in Nevada. The Patriots, on the other hand, took those contract specifics to heart and signed JuJu Smith-Schuster to a contract with the same exact length and total value.
This sent an indirect message to the NFL at large; Bill Belichick valued the 26-year-old Smith-Schuster over the 26-year-old wideout he’d helped turn into a passing game mainstay. Meyers took notice.
Cold world lol https://t.co/YtYqjrymUw
— Jakobi Meyers (@jkbmyrs5) March 15, 2023
On paper it’s an upgrade for New England. Meyers has never reached the heights Smith-Schuster has — the new Patriot had 111 catches and 1,426 receiving yards back in 2018. Smith-Schuster’s 2022 numbers are better than Meyers’ as well: 78 catches, 933 receiving yards and three touchdowns as a Kansas City Chief vs. 67 for 804 yards and six touchdowns for Meyers.
But Smith-Schuster has thrived in situations where there’s a clear top target ahead of him, whether that’s been Antonio Brown or Travis Kelce. Meyers did his best work as Mac Jones’ top option and there’s no alpha dog in a New England receiving/tight end corps that features DeVante Parker, Tyquan Thornton, Kendrick Bourne and Hunter Henry.
Time will tell if Belichick made the right decision here. But Meyers has a little more motivation to impress in his first season as a Raider this fall.