NFL free agency is right around the corner. While some players will work out extensions with their current teams, most of them will become unrestricted free agents and hit the open market. One of the most prominent free agents at the wide receiver position is New England Patriots wide receiver Jakobi Meyers. What are some possible landing spots for Meyers?
Jakobi Meyers Free Agency Predictions
Every year, the free agent class has its strengths and weaknesses. The 2023 class is very weak at wide receiver but absolutely loaded at running back. That, combined with what is believed to be a good, but not great rookie WR class, will make watching this unfold very interesting.
There are several teams clearly in need of wide receivers. Some teams could serve to upgrade their WR2 spot. Others just need someone who can make plays.
Meyers has been one of the more underrated receivers for about the past three years. After earning a three-year contract as a UDFA, he returned to the Patriots on a one-year deal as a restricted free agent last year.
Now set to earn a significant raise, where might Meyers end up playing in 2023 and beyond?
Meyers Would Help the Bears’ Dire WR Situation
If you wanted to make the argument that the Chicago Bears have the weakest set of offensive playmakers in the league, I would have a hard time refuting it. Darnell Mooney, while talented, remains miscast as the team’s WR1. Meyers isn’t a WR1 in his own right, but he’s a good, reliable receiver, who would be a massive upgrade on everyone else the Bears were deploying in 2022.
Chicago needs to surround Justin Fields with better weapons. Meyers isn’t necessarily the game-breaking type of player Fields needs, but he’s good enough.
MORE: 2023 NFL Free Agency Predictions
It also helps that the Bears’ salary cap situation is the best in the league. They need to address the offensive line and wide receiver positions. Meyers is the best WR on the market. This makes too much sense.
The Saints Could Make Meyers Their WR2
The New Orleans Saints have their WR1 of the future in Chris Olave, but they have absolutely nothing behind him. Michael Thomas is a prime cut candidate. He also may not physically be able to play football anymore, and Jarvis Landry is already gone.
Rashid Shaheed was a revelation as a UDFA, but, well, he’s a UDFA. There’s no way the Saints are confident in him as their WR3, let alone WR2.
Meyers operating closer to the line of scrimmage would mesh perfectly with Olave’s field-stretching ability. Signing Meyers would set the Saints up with a strong WR duo for at least the next 3-4 years. If they can just find themselves a quarterback, this team could turn things around very quickly.
Meyers Would Work Nicely Opposite DJ Moore in Carolina
The Panthers are in full rebuild mode. So, perhaps signing a veteran wide receiver isn’t necessarily what they’re looking for.
With that said, Meyers is a perfect guy to put opposite DJ Moore. Meyers works best as a team’s WR2 opposite an alpha WR1. Similar to what I said above regarding the Saints, Moore is a capable downfield threat, while Meyers provides the safety valve underneath.
The Panthers have a bunch of needs offensively, including quarterback. But that shouldn’t preclude them from trying to sign good players. They have to start somewhere. Meyers would undoubtedly make this team better.
Jakobi Meyers’ Market Value, Career Stats, and More
Meyers currently sits at No. 35 in our top 100 free agents. He’s the second-ranked free agent wide receiver, behind only Odell Beckham Jr.
Last season, Meyers earned a shade under $4 million. Already one of the more successful UDFA wide receivers of all time, Meyers is about to get paid, and deservedly so.
According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, Meyers could earn in the range of “$15 million to 20 million” a year. Some are referring to him as this year’s Christian Kirk, implying he could end up making a whole lot more than perhaps he should, largely due to the lack of star power in this WR class.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano said, “The Patriots’ Jakobi Meyers could end up getting the biggest contract among a very thin group of free agent wide receivers. He 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. He caught 67 passes for 804 yards and six TDs in 2022.”
Meyers is only 26 years old. He worked his way up from nothing and proved he not only deserves a spot on an NFL roster but is capable of being a starter.
Despite spending the last two seasons as the Patriots’ WR1, Meyers shouldn’t be a WR1. Still, there’s no shame in being called a strong WR2, which is exactly what I think Meyers is.
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Regardless of where he ends up, I’m quite confident it won’t be New England. I didn’t even include them as a possibility.
The writing has been on the wall for Meyers’ departure since early in the season. Way back in September, Meyers was quoted saying, “Confidence isn’t an issue, but I question what the plan is sometimes and how we’re going to attack.” Clearly not thrilled with his team’s offensive game plan, Meyers openly called out his coaches, which is not something you see every day.
After the season ended, Meyers said, “I learned a lot about myself, just who I want to be. I got to meet people that I’ll never forget. They showed me what kind of man that I want to be in the future.”
This is clearly Meyers reflecting on his time in New England. He did so in such a way as to suggest his time there has come to an end. Where he ends up will greatly impact his ability to produce, making it difficult to offer any sort of projection.
Meyers has averaged a little over 50 receiving yards per game over the past three years. If he lands in a good offense where he can be a WR2, he has a legitimate shot at reaching 1,000 yards.
Jakobi Meyers Career Stats
- Receptions: 235
- Receiving Yards: 2,758
- Total Touchdowns: 8