Patriots lone restricted free agent signs contract tender
On Monday, the Patriots tied up one of the remaining loose ends of their offseason. Wide receiver Jakobi Meyers signed his RFA tender, officially locking him in for the 2022 season. The signing was first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
NFL teams can tender their restricted free agents prior to the NFL league year, giving them right of first refusal and potential draft pick compensation if that players takes another offer. This past spring, the Patriots tendered Meyers at the second-round level, which is essentially a one-year, $3.98 million contract. No competing offers to Meyers were made public.
Meyers’ deal was already factor into the Patriots salary cap number from when they first tendered him. According to salary cap expert Miguel Benzan the team has $320,637 in cap space with 85 players on the roster.
Players can (but rarely do) hold out on an RFA tender, or (more commonly) work with the team on a long-term extension to replace the de facto one-year contract. While neither is the case with Meyers as he signs right now, Schefter says that “[Meyers’] agents, Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey, continue conversations with the Patriots about a new deal.”
Last week during Minicamp, Meyers was asked if he’d like to reach a deal to keep him with the Patriots long-term. “Who wouldn’t, honestly? It’s a great place to be,” he said. “I’m happy here.”
The Patriots originally signed Meyers as a UDFA in 2019. Last season, he took over the slot receiver role full-time, and caught 83 passes for 866 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games. He figures to feature in that role again in 2022.
With Meyers’ deal now officially official, the Patriots only have two members of last year’s team remaining as free agents. Linebackers Dont’a Hightower and Jamie Collins have yet to sign. There has been some speculation that Hightower could consider retirement.
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