We’re just a week out from the unofficial start of NFL free agency (the legal tampering period begins next Monday), and the markets for many of the top players are starting to come into focus coming away from last week’s NFL Combine. That includes Jakobi Meyers, who is expected to be the Patriots’ top free agent and the top wide receiver available this spring.

To this point, Meyers’ market had been tough to project. It’s a weaker year overall for wide receivers, which seemingly would help his case. However, he never had true ‘No. 1 receiver’ production in New England.

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• According to a report out of Indy from NBC Sports Boston’s Phil Perry, it appears as though teams may be focused on that second thing. “Folks I’ve spoken to this week don’t see Jakobi Meyers as a No. 1 and don’t think he’ll get ‘back-end No. 1′ money,” Perry tweeted over the weekend. Perry goes on to note teams expect Meyers’ contract to come in at somewhere between $12 million to $15 million in free agency.

  That’s well below initial expectations for Meyers. At the start of the season, many used the contract the Jacksonville Jaguars gave Christian Kirk in free agency last year, which pays Kirk $18 million per year.

  Meyers put up comparable numbers last year to what Kirk did in 2021. Kirk was coming off a 77-catch, 982-yard, 17-game season when the Jags paid him. In 14 games last year, Meyers caught 67 passes for 804 yards.

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  Jan 1, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (16) makes the touchdown against Miami Dolphins linebacker Duke Riley (45) in the second half at Gillette Stadium. Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

• Could this mean the Patriots have a chance to get Meyers back for less than expected. That’s in play, but not a guarantee. At the very least, the 26-year-old wideout seems destined to hit the open market and see what he can get.

  “He [Meyers] has talked to the Patriots about a new deal, but they haven’t made very much progress, and it sounds like Meyers will hit the market when it officially opens March 15,” ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported on Sunday. That was followed by a report from MassLive’s Mark Daniels, who shared that “my understanding with Jakobi is that it was always doubtful he would return on a ‘team friendly deal.'”

  “He wants to return, but the Patriots will have to pay for it,” Daniels added.

  As Meyers’ future remains uncertain, there was a report over the weekend that the Patriots hope to add a top pass catcher, and prefer to do so via the veteran market than by using the 14th overall pick. If that’s the case, the Patriots will need both the salary cap space and spot on the depth chart for that player. Any such move would likely impact the team’s pursuit of Meyers.

  Where does this leave things between the Patriots and Meyers? According to NFL Network’s Mike Giardi, “belief is Patriots will let him [Meyers] see what’s out there, but hope he comes back to them for final conversation.” That’s a strategy they’ve used in free agency in the past with players including Devin McCourty and Dont’a Hightower.

• Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at [email protected].

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