Bill Belichick says Jakobi Meyers was a ‘priority’ for the Patriots this offseason
It’s going to be some sort of reunion when the New England Patriots and Las Vegas Raiders square off this Sunday. There are nine former Patriots players and eight former coaches – including head coach Josh McDaniels – currently with Vegas.
Of those 17 individuals, none are getting more attention leading up to the game than wide receiver Jakobi Meyers. Meyers was signed as a UDFA by the Patriots in 2019 and became the team’s most reliable target during his time in New England.
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During his four years with the team, Meyers’ 235 catches and 2,758 yards led all Patriots wide receivers by a wide margin. Julian Edelman was second in both catches (121) and yards (1,432), despite only playing in 22 games during that span. No other receiver had more than 100 receptions, and Kendrick Bourne is the only other Patriots receiver to go for over 1,000 yards between 2019 and 2022.
That’s what made it so surprising this offseason when Meyers, an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career, ended up signing with the Raiders. It was a seemingly affordable deal too – three years worth up to $33 million with $21 million guaranteed. The deal has him tied as the 27th-highest-paid receiver in football.
The surprise continued the next day, when the Patriots signed JuJu Smith-Schuster to a very similar contract. Smith-Schuster’s deal is also for three years, worth up to $25.5 million with $16 million in guarantees. That deal ranks 36th for receivers in the league. A key difference in the deals is the Raiders have an out in Meyers’ deal after his first season, while it would be costly for the Patriots to part ways with Smith-Schuster until after the 2024 season.
Among those surprised by the signing was Meyers himself. In response to Smith-Schuster’s signing, Meyers tweeted “Cold world lol.”
Cold world lol https://t.co/YtYqjrymUw
— Jakobi Meyers (@jkbmyrs5) March 15, 2023
In the aftermath of both signings, it appeared the Patriots had made a clear choice. In discussing the Patriots losing Meyers, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport shared that Meyers was “someone I know the Patriots wanted to keep…just the money got to a place where they said, ‘You know what, take it. Like, that’s a good deal, we cannot match that.'”
Meyers himself seemed to confirm that shortly after the signing. “The business side of things took over. You know how it goes,” he said on The Rich Eisen Show in March. “I definitely wanted to stay [with the Patriots]. I’ve got a lot of family on that team. It would have been a cool opportunity.”
A day later, Rapoport gave the behind-the-scenes on Smith-Schuster’s signing as well. “I know he wanted to return to Kansas City, that’s where his heart was. The Patriots pulled at him too, they offered more money. That helps,” Rapoport said.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid seemed to confirm that series of events, saying later in March “we hoped [to retain him], but you’ve got to manage all the cap stuff, and we couldn’t give him what they gave him.”
Early on, Meyers has had the better season of the two players. His 25 catches, 274 yards, and three touchdowns through four games (he missed a game with a concussion) not only surpass Smith-Schuster (14/86/0), but every wide receiver on the Patriots’ roster.
That brings us to Wednesday, when Bill Belichick was asked about Meyers departure ahead of facing him this Sunday. Specifically, the question asked why Meyers wasn’t more of a “priority” for the team this offseason.
“He was a priority,” Belichick replied. “We talked to him.”
Were the two sides close?
“Relatively, yeah,” Belichick shared. “But free agency is free agency.”
On those comments, Andrew Callahan of The Boston Herald tweeted that “I can tell you this: that’s news to Meyers’ camp.”
Those weren’t Belichick’s only comments on Meyers on Wednesday. “He was a free agent, and he signed with the Raiders,” Belichick added. “There’s a lot of guys who leave and change teams in free agency.”
At this point, the circumstances of Meyers’ departure don’t matter much to the Patriots. The team is 1-4 without him, and digging out of that hole now starts with going against him this Sunday. But it’s always interesting to get a peak behind the curtain of the Patriots’ offseason process.
Read more…
5 players to watch for the Patriots ahead of the NFL trade deadline
WR Kendrick Bourne
Oct 8, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne (84) runs with the ball during the second half against the New Orleans Saints at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Through five games, Bourne has been the best wide receiver in the Patriots’ offense. He leads the team with 18 catches for 218 yards, and two touchdowns. That kind of production, in the context of what this offense has been, should draw notice around the league.
What could the Patriots get in return for Bourne? Using last year as precedent (and get ready for that to become a theme), a top-100 pick may not be out of the question. While there’s not direct comp for Bourne, there are two trades that happened that can be used to find the ballpark of Bourne’s value. The Kansas City Chiefs got third- and sixth-round picks for Kadarius Toney – who had been a healthy scratch for most of that season – and the Steelers got a second-round pick for Chase Claypool – who had comparable numbers to what Bourne does now at that point.
If contenders feel they need wide receiver help, there’s evidence that shows they’re wiling to overpay for a player. Could the Patriots take advantage?
TE Hunter Henry
Sep 10, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry (85) runs a route during the second half at against the Philadelphia Eagles Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
Like Bourne, Henry has been able to produce despite the issues around him. He’s right behind Bourne in most of the Patriots’ major statistical categories, with 17 catches for 176 yards and two scores.
Would he have the same value on the trade market? It’s a little harder to say. The only tight end trade at the deadline last year was T.J. Hockenson going with two fourth-round picks to Detroit for a second- and third-round picks. Plus, most of the top contending teams have high-level tight ends. Dallas could be a team to watch though if the Patriots take calls on Henry.
OT Trent Brown
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ: Trent Brown of the New England Patriots in action against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 24, 2023. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
Brown had his worst game of the year against the Saints, after a strong start. If the team keeps losing and he keeps sliding, would a contending team view him as a player who could bounce back with a change of scenery – especially as a pending free agent?
While there’s been a tackle shortage around the league the last few years, no tackles were moved at least year’s trade deadline. In fact only one tackle was traded in-season all year, when the Patriots sent Justin Herron and a seventh-round pick to the Raiders for a sixth-round pick. Brown would certainly get a better return than that, but by how much?
LB Josh Uche
Aug 25, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; New England Patriots linebacker Josh Uche (55) tackles Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears (32) for a loss during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
The first of two members of the 2020 draft class on this list, Uche figures to have a bigger role moving forward this season after Matthew Judon’s injury. However, if the team is losing games, does his status as a pending free agent supersede that? If the Patriots don’t plan on re-signing him this offseason, the Patriots have enough depth at pass rusher to allow themselves to get something for him now.
Last year’s edge rusher trades were all over the map. Robert Quinn went for a fourth-round pick. Quinn’s situation isn’t a perfect comparison for Uche right now, but it’s as close as their was in 2022.
S Kyle Dugger
New England Patriots safety Kyle Dugger (Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports)
Of all the players on this list (keep in mind all five are on expiring contracts), Dugger probably makes the most sense to keep. Regardless of what happens with the coaching staff this offseason, Dugger is a player the team can build around in the future. However, he’s also probably one of the players they can get the most for.
Will a team blow away the Patriots with an offer for Dugger, hoping to be able to sign him to a long-term deal without having to go through unrestricted free agency. It could happen. But at the same time, there still should be an eye on keeping Dugger in New England beyond this season.
