Reports: Raiders land free agent receiver Jakobi Meyers

By Case Keefer (contact)

Tuesday, March 14, 2023 | 7:51 a.m.

The Raiders have a new receiver to go with their new quarterback.

On the second day of the NFL’s legal tampering period, Las Vegas signed former New England receiver Jakobi Meyers to a three-year $33 million deal according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The 26-year-old out of North Carolina State spent his first four seasons with the Patriots where he hauled in 235 passes for 2,758 yards and eight touchdowns.

Meyers figures to be one of the top targets for new quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who agreed to terms for a contract on Monday, alongside No. 1 receiver Davante Adams, tight end Darren Waller and slot receiver Hunter Renfrow.

Meyers has primarily played in the slot as a professional, though he could presumably transition into an outside role opposite of Adams unless the Raiders plan to trade Renfrow.

Meyers was the top-rated unrestricted free agent receiver according to Pro Football Focus — just as Garoppolo held the same standing among quarterbacks. It’s a mild surprise that the Raiders’ two big-ticket acquisitions to start free agency are both on the offensive side considering they are in need in much more help defensively.

Las Vegas has reportedly signed Philadelphia Eagles safety Marcus Epps and Indianapolis Colts cornerback Brandon Facyson, who played for the Raiders in the 2021-2022 season, but they commanded a fraction of the money compared to the new offensive pair.

It appears Raiders general manager Dave Ziegler plans to primarily rebuild the team’s defense through the NFL Draft, where Las Vegas currently holds 11 picks including the seventh overall selection.

Meyers will have a chance at redemption at Allegiant Stadium after he left emotionally in Week 15 of last season following the most misguided play of his career, if not the whole NFL season, in a 30-24 Raiders’ victory over the Patriots.

On the final play from regulation in a tie game, Meyers attempted to throw a lateral across the field but it went straight to Raiders edge rusher Chandler Jones. The veteran ran in a 48-yard touchdown to keep the Raiders’ playoff dreams alive at the time and put a serious dent into the Patriots’ hopes.

The turnover was out of character for Meyers, who’s been known as a heady and hard-working player with the Patriots after making an immediate impact despite being an undrafted free agent in 2019. Raiders coach Josh McDaniels has shown a tendency to want to reunite with his former players from his time as the offensive coordinator with the Patriots, and now he’s got another one in Meyers.

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or