The Raiders have been extremely active in free agency this year, loading up on offensive playmakers. But what was the best move that the team has made so far this off-season?
In a recent article by Zoltán Buday of Pro Football Focus, he named one positive takeaway for all 32 teams so far in free agency. For the Raiders, it was the acquisition of Jakobi Meyers. Here is what he had to say about that move:
The Raiders have been extremely busy during this offseason, as they replaced former starting quarterback Derek Carr with Jimmy Garoppolo, traded away their top tight end in Darren Waller and brought in numerous new players. However, none might be more noteworthy than former Patriots wide receiver Jakobi Meyers.
Although it was not a very deep position group, Meyers was still a No.1 wide receiver in New England, and the Raiders were able to get a player like that at a seemingly discounted price. While PFF’s projection expected Meyers to get a deal that is worth $64 million, he ended up signing a three-year, $33 million contract in Las Vegas.
Meyers can do a lot for the Raiders, including making tough catches across the middle and in traffic. He also has the position flexibility to play on the outside and in the slot.
But one underrated aspect of his game is his ability to block. To be frank, he is a better blocker than Darren Waller and that could be a reason the Raiders decide to swap Meyers for Waller this offseason. He’ll be able to contribute in the run game, which is a must in Josh McDaniels’ offense.
Meyers likely won’t light up the stat sheet for the Raiders this season, but he should be a useful player that does all the dirty work at receiver. For that reason alone, it’s hard not to get excited about his fit in this offense with Davante Adams and Hunter Renfrow.
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