Wide receiver Jakobi Meyers was one of the few bright spots on the 2023 Las Vegas Raiders, and the former undrafted free agent could be a potential trade target. After spending his first four seasons with the New England Patriots, then-head coach Josh McDaniels brought him to Vegas with a three-year, $33 million contract.
The wide receiver immediately justified that investment, recording 37 receptions for 385 yards and five touchdowns through the first six games of the season. While his production dipped after the team fired McDaniels and sent out Aidan O’Connell, he still finished the year with 71 receptions for 807 yards and eight touchdowns despite subpar quarterback play.
With Antonio Pierce firmly entrenched as the full-time head coach and O’Connell likely to start again, the Raiders could trade Jakobi Meyers. The back half of 2024 showed he wasn’t as vital to the passing attack with Pierce and O’Connell, and the team can free up $5.48 million in cap space by trading him after June 1st.
Sneakiest post June 1st veteran WR trade targets are not the flashier names with Aiyuk, Higgins, DK, Deebo, C Sutton
Guys on non-contending teams, low salary, still healthy & productive…
Tyler Lockett – $4.6M
Adam Thielen – $5.5M
Darius Slayton – $2.5M
Jakobi Meyers – $5M— Greg Cover 1 🏈 (@GregTompsett) May 11, 2024
Jakobi Meyers Named A Potential Trade Target
Now entering his age-28 season, Jakobi Meyers should generate some interest on the trade market. The North Carolina State product might not be a superstar, but he’s one of the better WR2’s in the league. The wideout has recorded at least 800 yards since he established himself as a full-time starter in 2021, and he did it all despite catching passes from Mac Jones, Bailey Zappe, Jimmy Garoppolo, and O’Connell.
The Raiders were competitive with Pierce calling the shots, but it’s hard to envision the team going on a deep playoff run in 2024. Ultimately, you can’t compete without a quarterback, and the underwhelming duo of O’Connell and Gardner Minshew isn’t enough to lead a team to serious contention. With this in mind, the Raiders could try and trade Jakobi Meyers for a decent draft pick and focus on their rebuild.
Potential Fits
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills need a new wide receiver in the worst way. With Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis gone, Josh Allen will spend the 2024 season throwing to an underwhelming/untested group of options in Dalton Kincaid, Keon Coleman, Curtis Samuel, and Khalil Shakir. Jakobi Meyers should be the best recevier on this roster, and Buffalo will have the cap space to trade for him after June 1st. The Bills designated Tre’Davious White as a post-June 1st cut, so they’ll receive quite a bit of spending money in just a few weeks.
Kansas City Chiefs
Rashee Rice is staring down a major suspension and could miss the 2024 season. While the Raiders probably won’t want to trade Jakobi Meyers to their biggest division rival, they might not have a choice if Kansas City makes the best offer. Meyers is an ideal fit for Rice’s role in the offense and his chain-moving abilities perfectly complement the speed of Marquise Brown and first-round rookie Xavier Worthy.
New Orleans Saints
New Orleans has a do-everything star in Chris Olave and a reliable deep threat in Rashid Shaheed. While an elite quarterback could use these two to chase a playoff spot, Derek Carr will need more help. The longtime Raider is only as good as the weapons around him, and Dennis Allen will probably lose his job if he can’t make the playoffs in 2024. Jakobi Meyers is an upgrade from Michael Thomas, and the uncertain job security could justify a trade.
Los Angeles Chargers
After parting ways with Mike Williams and Keenan Allen, the Chargers are attacking the wide receiver position with volume. While multiple players could break out, Justin Herbert could use a proven commodity like Meyers. Once again, the Raiders won’t want to trade Jakobi Meyers to a division rival, but Los Angeles could make a strong offer.
Baltimore Ravens
Odell Beckham played well for the Ravens last year, but he was still a shell of his former self. With the former first-round pick in Miami, somebody will need to step up for Lamar Jackson. Perhaps Rashod Bateman can bounce back from his disappointing 2023, but Jakobi Myeres could provide some more stability in a trade. With Mark Andrews and Zay Flowers leading the passing attack, Jackson won’t need another home run threat. Instead, all he’ll need is a reliable weapon who can consistently get open and move the chains.
Main Photo: Stephen R. Slyvanie – USA Today Sports
