New England Patriots’ Jakobi Meyers Handling One Task At A Time With Second-Round Tender Unsigned

The tender that Jakobi Meyers received from the New England Patriots in March remains unsigned in June.

The restricted free agent, who is due a non-guaranteed $3.986 million next season, explained the delay after the last session of mandatory minicamp was canceled.

“My mindset, I’m kind of one of those guys who’s like — I’m not too great at multitasking, if I have to be honest,” Meyers told reporters during his video conference Thursday afternoon. “Once I got here, I talked to my agent and I was just like, ‘Whatever you’ve got to do. I mean, that’s why you get paid the big bucks. I’m going to try to do what I do best.’”

The North Carolina State product had arrived in New England as an undrafted free agent in 2019. His three-year, $1.765 million rookie deal included a $10,000 signing bonus and $60,000 in guaranteed base salary.

There have been 46 games played and 26 starts made since then. Meyers led the Patriots with 81 targets, 59 receptions and 729 receiving yards in 2020. He did so again in 2021, setting career highs with 126 targets, 83 receptions and 866 receiving yards. Along the way came the initial two trips to the end zone for a former Wolfpack quarterback recruit who previously threw a pair of touchdowns.

The football side is where Meyers intends to stay while agent Drew Rosenhaus stays on the other.

“I kind of put it all on his plate,” Meyers said of his contract situation, “just trusting him, trusting the coaches, trusting the front office. And now that I’m kind of pretty much wrapped up here, I guess I’ll go back home and kind of just figure out what’s best for me. So that’s all it was. It was more so just me trying to be able to focus on what was going on. We had a lot of new changes this year, so I just really wanted to be locked into that first.”

In addition to the final minicamp practice, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick called off the final two sessions of voluntary organized team activities next week. That leaves training camp on the horizon at the end of July.

And a competition between starting-caliber investments.

Veteran wide receivers DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor respectively carry cap numbers of $6.062 million, $6.416 million and $14.882 million into the upcoming campaign. And after Meyers was tendered at the second-round level — and no organization around the NFL submitted an offer sheet — New England traded up to draft Baylor speedster Tyquan Thornton in the second round.

The current room also features Ty Montgomery, N’Keal Harry, Kristian Wilkerson, Tre Nixon and Malcolm Perry.

“Every day I go in there, I know I’ve got to be the best person, the best player,” Meyers said. “I’ve got to know the plays, because I know everyone who wants this opportunity has the ability to step in and play at any moment. I’m just trying to put my best foot forward. And at the same time, we all still love each other. It’s still a brotherhood in the receiver room, but we know it’s some talented individuals in that receiver room. We all want jobs.”

When asked whether he would like to reach a long-term extension with the Patriots, the 25-year-old reiterated his stance from five months prior.

“Definitely,” added Meyers. “Who wouldn’t, honestly? You know, it’s a great place to be. The guys in the locker room, I mean, I’ve learned more about being a man just from them than probably like my whole life. It’s just been great to be around those guys. It’s a great city to be in, so I’m happy here. If God blessed me with that opportunity, how could you not jump at it? But at this time, I can only control what I can control.”