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Meyers: Pats ‘wouldn’t budge’ over $1M difference from Raiders’ offer originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
One of the New England Patriots’ many miscues in 2023 was picking JuJu Smith-Schuster over Jakobi Meyers in free agency.
Smith-Schuster took Meyers’ spot on the Patriots’ wide receiver depth chart after signing a three-year, $25.5 million contract ($16 million guaranteed). Earlier that week, Meyers joined the Las Vegas Raiders on a three-year deal worth $33 million ($21 million guaranteed).
Meyers was well worth the extra cash for Las Vegas. The 27-year-old tallied 71 catches for 807 yards and eight touchdowns in 16 games — the same number of TDs he scored in four seasons with New England.
Meanwhile, Smith-Schuster was virtually a non-factor for the Patriots. He caught 29 passes for 260 yards and just one touchdown in 11 games.
Meyers joined 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Felger & Mazz on Monday and opened up about leaving the Pats for the Raiders. Host Michael Felger asked Meyers if he feels vindicated after excelling during a season in which New England could’ve used his services.
“I do,” Meyers answered. “As far as those lines, yeah, I do. I feel like now you can see, like, if y’all just freed me a little bit and let me kind of go out there and do other things or make plays and try to really gear towards me, it would have paid off.”
The Patriots signed Meyers as an undrafted free agent out of NC State in 2019. He carved out an important role in New England’s offense and showed off a strong rapport with quarterback Mac Jones in 2021 and 2022.
After one year in Vegas though, Meyers feels at home. He told Felger & Mazz that he’s enjoying his time with the Raiders more than his Patriots tenure.
“It was different experiences,” Meyers said. “Who I was at that point in my career, I probably didn’t get as much respect as I would out here. So, I ain’t gonna lie, I do (enjoy the Raiders experience more). Honestly, it’s different. It’s different. I’m a different person here,…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/meyers-pats-wouldnt-budge-over-222523088.html
Author : NBC Sports Boston
Publish date : 2024-02-05 22:25:23
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