New England Patriots wide receiver Jakobi Meyers might just be the best free agent available at his position. The former undrafted free agent has been the only consistent part of the New England passing attack since Tom Brady departed, and now he’s set to earn a big payday on the open market. If he leaves New England, the following five teams are most likely to land him.
Top 5 Jakobi Meyers Free Agent Team Fits
1. Chicago Bears
Far and away the most obvious choice, the Chicago Bears are in the perfect position to outbid everyone for Jakobi Meyers. First, they have an absurd amount of salary cap space, leading the league with over $98 million in spending money. Secondly, they need to find a reliable weapon for their franchise quarterback. The Bears have committed to Justin Fields, but they’ll need to provide him with an NFL-caliber wide receiver if they want him to succeed. Jakobi Meyers might not be the second coming of Jerry Rice, but the past few seasons have proven that can be a reliable security blanket for an embattled young quarterback.
2. Baltimore Ravens
Speaking of teams in desperate need of wide receivers, the Baltimore Ravens figure to be big spenders at the position. Rashod Bateman showed some signs of life last year but he still lacks the consistency to be an unquestioned WR1. Meanwhile, the rest of the depth chart is barren, and it’s impossible to ask any quarterback to succeed in this environment. With Greg Roman gone, the Ravens have a chance to dramatically improve their passing game if they hire the right coordinator and bring in a good player like Meyers.
3. New York Giants
The 2022 New York Giants somehow found a way to field a competent offense with Darius Slayton, Richie James, and Isaiah Hodgins as the three leading receivers on the roster. If this is what Brian Daboll was able to do with three replacement-level starters, imagine what he could do with Jakobi Meyers in the mix. With Sterling Shepard headed for free agency, Meyers could step right into that vacated role and serve as a net upgrade for the entire passing attack.
Jakobi Meyers has become one of the NFL’s most tough and reliable receivers (1 drop on 100+ targets), especially on late downs and in critical moments
Great leader and security blanket who’s shown significant growth each season if his career, including a career-high 6 TD in 2022 pic.twitter.com/CxCggU2qRa
— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) February 4, 2023
4. Carolina Panthers
Chances are, the Carolina Panthers will add a quarterback in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft. If they want to increase that player’s chances of being successful, they’ll do everything they can to surround the young passer with as much talent as humanly possible. D.J. Moore is a good receiver, and Terrace Marshall showed some life down the stretch, but they could use a third option. Jakobi Meyers spent 51.7% of his snaps in the slot last year, compared to Moore’s 17.4%. By making Meyers a full-time slot receiver, the Panthers could have three reliable weapons to support whichever quarterback they select in the draft.
5. Atlanta Falcons
Much like the Panthers, the Falcons will probably add a young quarterback and look to bolster their wide receivers. Drake London had a promising rookie season, and Kyle Pitts has plenty of untapped potential, but the rest of the depth chart leaves a lot to be desired, especially with Calvin Ridley now in Jacksonville. Meyers would be a perfect complement to the existing skills in this offense. London can make big plays on the outside, Pitts can terrorize the seam, and Meyers can be the safe underneath option.
Main Photo: Gregory Fisher – USA Today Sports
