To Re-Sign Jakobi Meyers, New England Patriots Will Need To Place Priority On Proven Production

There’s something to be said for knowing what you already have. In the case of Jakobi Meyers, the New England Patriots have had production that’s withstood the test of time and the test of competition.

Time will tell how much competition can be withstood once the new league year begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 15.

At age 26, Meyers has waited his turn. The North Carolina State product did not find himself among the 28 wide receivers selected in the 2019 NFL draft. But he does find himself atop the unrestricted market now, an offseason after many of his classmates reached extensions with their organizations from past or present.

Only six wide receivers picked that year have gone on to catch more passes in their careers than the unpicked Meyers has in his. According to Stathead, their names are Diontae Johnson, DK Metcalf, Terry McLaurin, A.J. Brown, Marquise Brown and Hunter Henfrow. As for Deebo Samuel, the all-purpose San Francisco 49er resides inside the leading six in receiving yards.

It’s a good place to be as the calendar turns to 2023.

Amid the rising receiver rates, the Patriots near free agency with a new offensive coordinator in Bill O’Brien and with $34 million in projected cap space, per Miguel Benzan of PatsCap. Weighing the value of a high ceiling versus the value of a high floor is ahead. The homegrown Meyers has developed into a little bit of both.

No. 16 has led New England in receiving yards for three consecutive campaigns — and his positional depth chart in receptions for as many campaigns. He’s done so while going from a $1.765 million undrafted contract that included $70,000 in total guarantees to a $3.986 million restricted tender.

And in 2022, as veteran acquisitions Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne and DeVante Parker combined to tally 97 catches for 1,335 yards and six touchdowns, the unquestioned No. 1 target remained a former quarterback.

Despite battling knee and shoulder injuries as well as a concussion, Meyers appeared in 14 games last season. He caught 67 passes for 804 yards along with a career-high six touchdowns of his own.

The level of consistency has outlasted the level of turnover, from different passers to different play-callers. It’s reached a level that’s become difficult to replace.

“Jakobi has had a career like some other players at that position have had here,” Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said during a January press conference. “Rookie free agent, wasn’t drafted, low expectations. Came in, made the team. Not really sure how good it was going to be. Kept improving, kept working. Quarterback going to receiver. Learned a lot. Played with some other good players then coaches. He’s worked hard and gotten better every year and expanded what he can do, whether it’s blocking the running game, run option-type routes, go down the field, make plays in single coverage outside. He’s got a good feel. He’s got a good concentration. He’s smart. He’s tough.

“He’s come through for us in a lot of big situations. But his progression has been a pretty steady incline since he got here coming out of college at N.C. State, after he converted from quarterback to receiver. He just works hard, keeps grinding, keeps getting better.”

The football was sent Meyers’ direction on 96 occasions. And between his routes out wide and in the slot at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, only one of those occasions resulted in a drop.

Pro Football Focus has charted Meyers for a drop rate of 3.1% and a contested catch rate of 63.2% since he became a sophomore starter in Foxborough. The team’s reigning recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award and Ron Hobson Media Good Guy Award has accounted for 64 receptions on third down over those three years.

For a prospect who ran the 40-yard dash in 4.63 seconds at the NFL Scouting Combine, it’s been about separating in other ways.

Just how much separation Meyers has gained will be learned next month.