Former Patriots wide receiver Jacoby Meyers has agreed to terms with the Raiders, a team source said. Athletic. Here’s what you need to know:
- Meyers will sign a three-year contract worth a maximum of $33 million, including $21 million in guaranteed money.
- Meyers caught 67 passes for 804 and had a career-best six touchdowns with the Patriots in 2022.
- The 6-foot-2 receiver signed with New England as a free agent in 2019. He caught 235 career passes for 2,758 career yards and led the Patriots in yards over the past three seasons.
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AthleticInstant Analysis:
How will Meyers fit in Las Vegas?
Meyers will get the No. 2 spot on the outside from superstar receiver Davante Adams. He effectively replaces Mack Hollins, who held that role last season. Hollins played well — he caught 57 passes for 690 yards and four touchdowns — but the Raiders are betting Meyers’ ceiling is even higher. He’s a small receiver at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, but he’s an excellent route runner and has a strong knowledge of the system.
And, like Hollins, Meyers will benefit from not being able to focus as much on his defense. With teams counting on Adams, tight end Darren Waller and slot receiver Hunter Renfrow in the pass game and running back Josh Jacobs down the field, Meyers could easily slip through the cracks. After serving as the Patriots’ No. 1 receiver the past two seasons, it will be a greater amount of freedom than he’s had in some time. — Reed
Impact on seasonality
The Raiders already had the best receiving talent in the league, but now they have one of the strongest receiving units in the league. Not many trios are better than Adams, Renfro and Meyers, and before even counting Waller, he’ll be used as another receiver when he’s spread out wide. If all goes well, Meyers will be a ceiling riser who will be nearly unstoppable to cover the team on a play-by-play 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 separation from defenders in man coverage. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo isn’t one to push the ball down the field often, and that strength of Meyers will be more important than his inability to stretch the field vertically. Overall, he makes a lot of sense for where the offense is going. — Reed
Should the Patriots keep him?
It’s surprising that the Patriots let go of their best wide receiver since Julian Edelman started walking on a contract they could easily match. Meyers was the only consistent receiver in their inefficient offense a year ago, and now they’re in a tough spot without him. At this time, Tyquan Thornton is the only Patriots receiver under contract in 2024. This sets up something big for Bill Belichick (perhaps via trade) or it’s a very questionable decision. — Graf
Scouting report
The undrafted 26-year-old has cashed in on his breakout performances over the past three years. Meyers entered free agency as the wide receiver market ballooned — and he may be the best at his position in a free-agent class. It’s another pairing with former Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who is heading into his second season as the Raiders’ head coach.
After he led the team in receiving yards in three straight seasons, the Patriots wanted him back. Without him, the team’s wide receiver room looks bleak right now.
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(Photo: Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
