Jakobi Meyers ▣ Free Agency

[Ross12]

I know his injury history the last 2 years but I’d be interested in Michael Thomas when he becomes available while also addressing wr in the draft. This is assuming we don’t match what Meyers will get in FA.

I don't think he reasonably gets cut until next year as a post-June 1 designation when the Saints would recoup $6M in cap space doing so. If they did that this year they'd only gain back about $1M. I guess you might be able to sway them with a trade after June 1st, they'd only get back $1M in cap space but his contract would be off their books in 2024 onwards. His salary is only about one million a year the next two years which is roughly all the Pats would be responsible for (plus small roster bonuses). I'd have to imagine he'd want some kind of signing bonus to come over but considering his recent history, he can't command much.

Edit: I just read up on it, looks like they redid his deal in January where he has a $30M signing bonus that comes due on March 17th, so they'll either cut him as a June-1 designation before that for an extra $1M if they don't want him, or they will keep him if they do want him. A trade seems very unlikely since any team knows they can just wait two weeks for him to get cut.

 

[Sicilian]

Parker is closer to a number 3 WR with his non separating self.

Parker as a #3 is in line with his current contract now, so that seems fine to me.

 

[Zuma]

Prediction Meyers signs $15.5 M / 4 years with the Patriots

 

[50-yard-line]

Yes. There are less true WR1 than there are teams. But the real goal is to have a top tier QB and WR on a team friendly (likely rookie) contract. Justin Jefferson is the beet WR in the league. He is right now vastly underpaid. Most super bowl contenders have multiple guys underpaid relative to their free agent value.

How many tier 1 WRs right now are on their rookie deals? That's the other side of the top-32 issue. Jalen Waddle, for example, is a number 1, but he's not getting paid - yet.

 

[jdlboot14]

Whatever it takes - keep Meyers.
If you go look at some of the big-time catches he made last year, he's the #1 target on 3rd down. He is so underrated because he's not flashy, and he's only had 1 year ('21) as a legit chance to show out. What's better, a risk on a guy like Chark - who will cost more, and start all over with scheme, teambuilding and chemistry? It's the fool's errand way of NFL wanderlust these days. But rarely works out.
Also, will Meyers chose to make 2 million more /yr by going to a losing or chaotic franchise? Would he take $52M/4yr with Patriots, instead of $58M/4yr with the Bears or Flacons or Texans? I'd argue that he would - especially if he knew he'd be WR1.

 

[Bruins29]

Parker as a #3 is in line with his current contract now, so that seems fine to me.

Remember with him everyone sucks

 

[mgteich]

Whatever it takes - keep Meyers.
If you go look at some of the big-time catches he made last year, he's the #1 target on 3rd down. He is so underrated because he's not flashy, and he's only had 1 year ('21) as a legit chance to show out. What's better, a risk on a guy like Chark - who will cost more, and start all over with scheme, teambuilding and chemistry? It's the fool's errand way of NFL wanderlust these days. But rarely works out.
Also, will Meyers chose to make 2 million more /yr by going to a losing or chaotic franchise? Would he take $52M/4yr with Patriots, instead of $58M/4yr with the Bears or Flacons or Texans? I'd argue that he would - especially if he knew he'd be WR1.

I don't think that we will get the #1 free agent WR for 4/$52M, unless it were all guaranteed.

 

[JarOfMayo51]

im warming up to paying him, but only on like a 2 year deal

 

[upstater1]

Parker as a #3 is in line with his current contract now, so that seems fine to me.

Style of play has to match a QB's abilities. I think Belichick is right to prize Parker for Mac because Mac is really accurate, throws with nice touch. If you give Mac a spot to throw to, and he needs to get it over a zone, he'll identify 1 on 1 coverage and throw it up to Davante quickly.

Parker might not be optimal with other QBs, but I think he's a good match for Mac.

 

[Pape]

im warming up to paying him, but only on like a 2 year deal

He's not going to sign a two year deal... It's unrealistic

 

[RobertWeathers]

I think hes gone.

 

[Sicilian]

I think hes gone.

Sad to agree, but I do. I think we've seen situations in the past where I assumed guys were gone (Andrews, Hightower, etc) and they ended up coming back, but WR has become such a highly valued position in the league that there's almost no way to get one in free agency without overpaying by definition. Sometimes that's worth it, but I don't see the Patriots going that route with Jakobi (and probably shouldn't).

 

[Bourne Again Christian]

New OC is the perfect time to cut bait with a wr coming into free agency.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Sad to agree, but I do. I think we've seen situations in the past where I assumed guys were gone (Andrews, Hightower, etc) and they ended up coming back, but WR has become such a highly valued position in the league that there's almost no way to get one in free agency without overpaying by definition. Sometimes that's worth it, but I don't see the Patriots going that route with Jakobi (and probably shouldn't).

Love Meyers but because there aren't a lot of WRs in FA and hes in a position of strength. I can see a number of teams paying him beyond $15m aav easy.

 

[Family]

At some level I’m curious what the offense looks like if they just run it back with Parker as the number 1, Meyers as the 2, Bourne as the 3 and Thornton rotating in but with a real OC this time. It’s not a bad group… Parker is a weak 1 but he flashed periodically, he just needs to stay healthy.

The problem with the group is no one demands double coverage. There's not a WR the other team needs to scheme/focus on.

 

[Stu Pidassle]

pay him 15-18 per year and be done with it. His value to the patriots is actually higher than to other teams because...well...we haven't proven we can draft competent WRs to save our lives. We NEED to bring him back at a WR2 salary, and hopefully he takes a bit of a cut to stay with us as compared to whatever he gets in FA

and he might still turn into a WR1, which would just be icing

In some ways Meyers is similar to Dion Branch where his value to the Patriots is higher than other teams and the player will not be as successful anywhere else. When he rejoined the team Branch expressed regret that he left and that the difference in money was not worth it. The Pats suffered from the lack of a go to receiver until Moss came along. Hopefully the two sides can find a number that works for both this time.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

If he can rake in north of 15M per year, then you shake his hand and wish him well at his next non-NE location.

That may be short of true #1 WR money but it is above a #2 posession / slot receiver, especially a guy lacking the typically expected in-space elusiveness of a NE slot guy of the Troy Brown/ Wes Welker / Danny Amendola / Julian Edelman mold

 

[PatsFan2]

Love Meyers but because there aren't a lot of WRs in FA and hes in a position of strength. I can see a number of teams paying him beyond $15m aav easy.

Good post: some fans are so knee jerk in FA not looking at the Big picture: Lets say Meyers was a FA in 2024 would anybody here want Meyers over say Jerry Jeudy - Tee Higgins - Brandon Aiyuk and Michael Pittman?? I wouldn't they are all superior to him. Facts this is a very weak WR FA Class if Meyers is close to the Top buyer beware... what a difference a year makes 2024 will be Great year for FA WR's not 2023.

 

[PatsFan2]

If he can rake in north of 15M per year, then you shake his hand and wish him well at his next non-NE location.

That may be short of true #1 WR money but it is above a #2 posession / slot receiver, especially a guy lacking the typically expected in-space elusiveness of a NE slot guy of the Troy Brown/ Wes Welker / Danny Amendola / Julian Edelman mold

I said this before and I will say it again Meyers is a $10-11 Mill WR Tops not a penny more! Meyers is not worth $15Mill he's a good WR not Great! Let some other Team give him$15 they might regret it.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Good post: some fans are so knee jerk in FA not looking at the Big picture: Lets say Meyers was a FA in 2024 would anybody here want Meyers over say Jerry Jeudy - Tee Higgins - Brandon Aiyuk and Michael Pittman?? I wouldn't they are all superior to him. Facts this is a very weak WR FA Class if Meyers is close to the Top buyer beware... what difference a year makes 2024 will be Great year for FA WR's not 2023.

Yea. Losing Meyers will be a blow no question. With that said, if Meyers is getting $15m then i'd rather trade for Higgans and pay him ~$20m