Jakobi Meyers is one of the biggest free agent signings from the Las Vegas Raiders so far this offseason. He agreed to a three-year, $33 million deal to be a part of Jimmy Garoppolo’s receiving core alongside Davante Adams.
Meyers spent the last four seasons with the New England Patriots, where he had 67 catches for 804 yards and six touchdowns in 2022. The year prior he had 83 catches for 866 yards and two touchdowns. He has managed relatively solid numbers despite a slow-moving Patriots offense.
Now that Meyers is part of a receiving core that includes a perennial All-Pro, he may see a difference in the amount of times he gets a lesser matchup or is left open altogether. And he’s ready to be a part of that system.
“They’ve got some real dogs on the offensive side,” Meyers said. “I feel like they can really play football, and I’ll just be another piece of the puzzle just trying to do my role and do my job and hopefully keep this machine rolling smoothly.”
Despite the losses of both Derek Carr and Darren Waller, the Raiders still have one of the better skill position groups in the NFL. Behind the steady Garoppolo at quarterback is the Pro Bowl running back Josh Jacobs.
Then there’s Adams, Meyers and Hunter Renfrow, the reliable slot receiver. If the Raiders can do some shoring up on the offensive line, Las Vegas should have a solid point-scoring unit in 2023.
The Raiders also made a strong defensive addition in former Philadelphia Eagles strong safety Marcus Epps. Epps joins Chandler Jones and Maxx Crosby as the team’s defensive anchors.
Meyers appears ready to play a role in a deeper offense than he’s had over the past few seasons. Generally, going from being an arguable No. 1 receiver to a clear No. 2 or No. 3 can be an adjustment, but Meyers is aware of the talent around him on the offensive side.
Rich Gannon praises Meyers signing
Raiders great Rich Gannon spoke about the signing of Meyers, calling it a great thing for the organization. He specifically cited Meyers’ familiarity with head coach Josh McDaniels’ offensive system and the terminology that he uses.
With a new face at quarterback, it will be interesting to see what McDaniels can do in his second season at the helm of the Raiders operation. Meyers brings him a familiar face to work with as he continues to adjust his offense.
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