The wide receiver trade market is heating up, and Las Vegas Raiders pass-catcher Jakobi Meyers could be the next player to find a new team. After going undrafted following the 2019 NFL Draft, the North Carolina State product showed some promise as a rookie before taking over for an injured Julian Edelman in 2020. Breaking out in the back half of the season, Meyers finished the 2020 campaign with 59 receptions for 729 yards. He continued to be a key piece of New England’s passing attack before signing a three-year, $33 million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023.
Reuniting with former offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, Meyers has remained productive with Antonio Pierce running the show. However, the NFL is a business and the Raiders aren’t ready to compete. Jakobi Meyers turns 28 in just over a week and, with no clear answer at quarterback, Las Vegas could trade the veteran for some much-needed draft capital. Seeing as the receiver carries no guaranteed money in 2025, teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers could target him as a cheap one-year rental.
Raiders Could Trade Jakobi Meyers to Chiefs, Chargers
The Kansas City Chiefs already addressed the wide receiver position with the DeAndre Hopkins trade, but that shouldn’t stop them from going after Jakobi Meyers. The Chiefs entered training camp believing they had three reliable wide receivers in Rashee Rice, free agent signee Marquise Brown, and first-round pick Xavier Worthy. Fast forward to the midway point of the season, and they might not have any. Rice and Brown are done for the season, while Worthy has yet to establish himself as anything more than a fun gadget player with impressive straight-line speed.
Hopkins will provide Patrick Mahomes with a reliable target on the outside, but this team still needs someone to work the short and intermediate routes. Defenses refuse to let Mahomes and company beat them deep, and the quarterback has responded with the lowest average depth of target in football. Meyers is an ideal fit for this style of play and should see a high target share in this offense. While he’s not as good after the catch as Rice, he’s just as talented at getting open right off the snap.
More Help For Justin Herbert
Justin Herbert suffered a Lisfranc injury in the offseason and a high-ankle sprain early in the regular season, so it’s no surprise that he didn’t look like his usual dominant self early in the season. However, the quarterback is back to full health and is playing some of the best football of his career. Head coach Jim Harbaugh will always try to win with his running game, but it’s hard to ignore just how well Herbert is playing with an underwhelming supporting cast.
Second-round pick Ladd McConkey looks like the real deal, but the rest of the depth chart leaves something to be desired. Quentin Johnston may or may not be legit, but the rest of the pass-catchers are comprised of washed-up veterans and unremarkable rookies. Jakobi Meyers is a little redundant with McConkey on the roster, but someone like Harbaugh should find a way to successfully incorporate both players. With two reliable receivers and an elite quarterback complementing a great defense and a sound running game, the Chargers could make some noise in the Wild Card hunt and go on a deep playoff run.
Main Photo: Stephen R. Sylvanie – USA Today Sports
