Latest news with #JakobiMeyers
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Even coming off a career year it's ‘same s–t different day' for Raiders WR Jakobi Meyers
Proving himself has just become a way of life for Jakobi Meyers. So much so that even after coming off his best season in which he didn't drop a pass and went over 1000 yards for the first time, the approach that got him here remains. "Same s–t, different day,' Meyers said of coming into this season as the Raiders top receiver. 'I've been doing this since I got in the league, nothing changed. I'm really just trying to make plays and go about my business." Advertisement Meyers entered the league undrafted out of NC State back in 2019. He made the Patriots roster, and saw his numbers go up each of his first three seasons. Though midway through that third season he still carried an unwanted distinction of having the longest streak of catches without having scored a touchdown. That streak came to an end in week ten of 2021 and he has never looked back. After his fourth season in New England, he entered free agency and the Raiders signed him to a lucrative long term deal. In the past two seasons for the Raiders, he has set new career highs. First season it was career highs in catches (71) and touchdowns (eight). This season it was catches again (87) and yards (1027). And he added one other notch – zero drops. Advertisement That dependability has his new coaches and quarterback feeling pretty confident in him as a target in this offense. 'Anything thrown in his direction, he seems to somehow come down (with),' OC Chip Kelly said of Meyers. 'He's got a really good understanding of coverage and schemes, where he knows how to get himself open at the appropriate time. And that's part of it. Being a receiver is you have to be where you're supposed to be when you're supposed to be there with separation and catch a football and he can do all four of those things.' The new quarterback in the building is Geno Smith, who comes over in trade with the Seattle Seahawks. The 34-year-old's situation is not dissimilar to that of Jakobi. Both are veterans who despite a few years of sustained marginal success, must continually go out and prove their worth and strive to take the next step. "I think it's the same mentality, honestly,' Meyers said of Smith. 'He's got a family that he's trying to feed, and he's trying to more so prove to himself that he's got what it takes to be out here. And it's the same with me; I'm trying to feed my family and also go out here and show that I could be a dominant football player and do the things that take to help the team win. That's pretty much it, honestly, simple." Advertisement Smith comes with familiarity in Pete Carroll's system. And Carroll and the Raiders chose Geno as their new starter as opposed to the new staff accepting an established starting QB. But after years of being relegated to backup status in his late twenties, Smith knows the deal. He also knows his best bet is to get the ball to Jakobi who is his most dependable receiver. "It's my job to throw him the ball, and get it to him in the right places and make it easy on him,' Smith said of targeting Meyers in the offense. 'Make the catches easy for him. I know he's going to make great catches and make me look good all the time. So my job is to make sure that I'm feeding him the ball and getting the ball in the right spots. And allow him to go out there and be great and get his shine on." Both players are in a position now where they must play well enough to rise above replacement level. That may seem harsh, but that's just the way it is in the NFL. Meyers is entering what is essentially his final season due to void years after this season and Smith is 34-years-old. Which means if either of them don't take a step up and prove to the team that they are the best options at their positions, they could be gone. Meyers not re-signed – or at least not at a number he would accept – and Smith would be replaced by a drafted QB. No one wants to see that happen. Advertisement Meyers celebrated his first 1000-yard season with his teammates. But that milestone is behind him now. Now it's about what he does for an encore. That means trying to keep his streak with no drops alive, while outdoing himself. The grind never stops. 'Same s–t, different day.' This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: 'Same s–t different day' for Raiders Jakobi Meyers even off milestones
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Raiders Could Reunite Jakobi Meyers & AJ Cole With College Teammate
Raiders Could Reunite Jakobi Meyers & AJ Cole With College Teammate originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Las Vegas Raiders are currently rebuilding their franchise under new general manager John Spytek and head coach Pete Carroll. Advertisement While they certainly needed to find upgrades after another disappointing season in 2024, the regime change spurred the loss of several fan favorites from previous years. Both starting linebackers — Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo — were not brought back in free agency and they were replaced with Elandon Roberts, Devin White and Jaylon Smith. While these players all have experience and could theoretically get the job done this season, none signed more than a one-year deal in Las Vegas. Former Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt (57).Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images On Monday, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported that Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt had been released. The Raiders need a better outlook for the future of their linebacker room, and that could start with the signing of Pratt. Advertisement He played college football at North Carolina State from 2014-18, where he overlapped with current Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers for four seasons and punter A.J. Cole for five. Pratt also finished tied for tenth in the NFL last season with 143 total tackles, which was more than players like Bobby Wagner, Demario Davis and Fred Warner. Las Vegas could certainly use a jolt like the 29-year-old Pratt, especially after losing a combined 221 tackles from Spillane and Deablo this offseason. Over the course of his six-year career, Pratt has missed just four games and totaled 616 tackles. He also has 32 tackles for a loss, as well as seven interceptions, seven forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries in 96 career contests (via Pro Football Reference). Advertisement Young linebackers like 2024 fifth-rounder Tommy Eichenberg, 2025 seventh-rounder Cody Lindenberg and 2024 undrafted free agent Amari Gainer are all looking to join the linebacker rotation in Las Vegas this season. While the addition of Pratt may limit their opportunities in 2025, when Roberts, White and Smith are all free agents in 2026, these players could utilize what they learned and be primed for a breakout role next season. Pratt provides both instant help for the Raiders at linebacker and eases the tension about the team's long-term outlook, so Las Vegas should at least kick the tires on him. Related: Raiders Veteran LB Praises North Carolina Coach Bill Belichick Related: Ashton Jeanty Receives 4-Word Message From Raiders OL Jackson Powers-Johnson This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Pete Carroll's ability to turn around Raiders one of many questions facing the franchise
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Pete Carroll bounced around the fields during the Raiders' offseason practices, exhibiting the youthful enthusiasm that has been the most visible part of his identity throughout his coaching career. Carroll is in his first season of trying to help the franchise — coming off a 4-13 season and without a playoff victory in 22 years — to recapture some of the glory that long ago made the Raiders an almost annual contender. His players have spoken glowingly about his impact in such a short time. 'I don't know how he's doing it,' wide receiver Jakobi Meyers said. 'It's got to be some type of drug out there or something. He's got a lot of energy. I truly respect how he keeps the guys going because it takes a lot to get a lot of grown men moving in the right direction.' Carroll won championships in college at USC and in the NFL with Seattle. Can he get it done in Las Vegas? It's the most notable question coming out of minicamp, but not the only one as the Raiders take a break before reassembling in late July for training camp when the temperatures and pressures noticeably rise. Christian Wilkins' health The Raiders thought they would have had standout defensive tackle Christian Wilkins on the practice field this offseason, but a setback in his recovery from a broken foot last season makes his return uncertain. Another question is how effective Wilkins will be if/when he returns. His absence has created an opportunity for other tackles to get more work, but there is no true replacement for Wilkins, who last year signed a four-year, $110 million contract. 'I pray that he heals whatever he's battling,' defensive tackle Adam Butler said. 'He's a tough guy. He's a great player. We all go through it, but it's man up and we're just going to keep working.' Ashton Jeanty's upside Running back Ashton Jeanty, the sixth pick in this year's NFL draft, has shown enough in practice without full pads and the hitting that comes with them to excite his coaches and teammates. 'You can see why he's a first-round draft pick,' said fellow running back Raheem Mostert, who also called Jeanty 'a generational talent.' Jeanty will be counted on to boost a rushing game that last season averaged a league-worst 79.8 yards per game. The Raiders also worked to develop Jeanty's catching abilities, placing him all over the field to make him more difficult for opponents to defend. His real challenge will come in training camp and the games that follow. Kolton Miller's contract Some key players didn't participate in other teams' minicamps over contract disputes, but left tackle Kolton Miller wasn't one of them. Despite having just one season left on his three-year, $54 million deal, Miller was on the field for organized team activities and minicamp. He might be forced to play out this season without the promise of a new contract. 'I want to be a Raider for life,' the 29-year-old said. 'I love it here. I don't want to go anywhere else. I only know one way to do it, and that's showing up and getting better each day.' Impact of young players The offseason practices showed Carroll isn't afraid to throw rookies into the mix. In addition to Jeanty from this year's draft, third-round cornerback Darien Porter and fourth-round wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. ran with the first team. Wide receiver Jack Bech, taken in the second round, also received lots of repetitions. Other first-year players made notable contributions as well. 'This is not a new process,' Carroll said. 'This is the way I've done it with rookies and freshmen in the whole thing for a long time. It just depends on how well you orchestrate what you ask them to do, and if they can find success, and then their confidence builds, and then before you know it you got a regular and that just helps our depth and helps us stay competitive.' More help could be on way The Raiders could be in the market for two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander after Green Bay released him on Monday. Las Vegas has more than $36 million in salary-cap space, according to to make a competitive offer to someone who figures to get his share of inquiries. The club already brought in another notable free agent, announcing Thursday it signed linebacker Germaine Pratt, who was released in a salary-cutting move by Cincinnati on Monday. Las Vegas signed him to a one-year, $4.25 million deal, someone with knowledge of the contract told The Associated Press. That person spoke on condition of anonymity because the details were not announced. Pratt made 143 tackles for the Bengals last season, and his addition will add to a linebackers room that includes fellow newcomers Elandon Roberts and Devin White. The Raiders lost two starters at that position in free agency — Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo. 'To put these three guys together where they're on the field at the same time, that's a loaded-up group,' Carroll said. 'They're all tough and they're all physical and they're all downhill players, which is the style that we love to play with.' ___ AP NFL:
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Raiders Insider Provides Update On Second-Round Pick's Contract Situation
Raiders Insider Provides Update On Second-Round Pick's Contract Situation originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Las Vegas Raiders have completely retooled their wide receiver room ahead of the 2025 NFL season. After trading Davante Adams to the New York Jets last year, the team has needed another wideout to step up alongside Jakobi Meyers. Advertisement 2023 third-rounder Tre Tucker is the obvious candidate, but the team still utilized three picks on wide receivers in this year's draft. They took TCU's Jack Bech in the second round, Tennessee's Dont'e Thornton in the fourth round, and Montana State's Tommy Mellott in the sixth round. While both Thornton and Mellott have signed, however, Bech is yet to put pen to paper for the Silver and Black. Las Vegas Raiders WR Jack Bech (18).Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images With mandatory minicamp approaching on June 10, Bech will not be allowed to participate if he is not under contract. The Las Vegas Review-Journal's Vincent Bonsignore recently provided an update about his contract situation and if there is any reason to be concerned. Advertisement "No (there is no concern about Bech's contract)," Bonsignore wrote. "Bech has been a full participant during OTAs. His contract will get sorted out." This is music to the ears of Raider Nation, who know all-too-well what can happen when a rookie sits out too long. It seems like the finer details are being resolved, and the team can expect him to be at mandatory minicamp. Bech is in a difficult spot, as no second-rounders from this year's draft have signed their contract yet outside of picks No. 33 and No. 34. The Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns set a precedent by signing these players -- Jayden Higgins and Carson Schwesinger -- to fully-guaranteed deals. Now, every agent of a second-round pick is attempting to get their player a fully-guaranteed contract, which typically only happens for first-rounders. Bech was the No. 58 pick, which is in the latter half of the second round, so it may be a reach to get that level of guarantees. Advertisement However, Bech will sign eventually and join the team, it will simply be a matter of how lucrative his contract is before ever playing an NFL snap. Related: Raiders Reporter Hints at Physical Transformation for Former First-Round Pick Related: Raiders Insider Leaves Door Open for Veteran CB Addition This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
27-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
With Stefon Diggs, did the Patriots do enough to upgrade at wide receiver?
Editor's note: This is the second in a three-part series breaking down lingering questions for the New England Patriots. Part I: Has the O-line improved enough? A year ago, no NFL team got less production from its wide receivers than the Patriots. It didn't matter that Drake Maye emerged as a promising young quarterback in the second half of the season. The crazy throws didn't matter. It didn't even help that the Pats were often trailing, which meant more passing. Advertisement Despite all of that, the Patriots' group of wide receivers was still the worst in the league. New England had only two receivers with more than 305 receiving yards — Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte — and neither put up more than 621. Change, of course, has come. There are some new veterans, a Day 2 draft pick, new coaches and a new coordinator. Now, the question is: Did the Patriots do enough to improve at wide receiver? The Patriots have lacked a true No. 1 outside receiver for decades. Julian Edelman, Wes Welker and Rob Gronkowski covered up a lot of their woes with developing receivers. Some guy named Tom Brady helped, too. But the Patriots' receiver group has been a total mess since Brady left. No receiver has put up 1,000 yards since Brady left for Tampa. (No one has put up 900, either.) Only one — Jakobi Meyers — has even gone over 800 yards. In short, it's been bleak for years. That has to change. Everything for the Patriots right now is centered around the 22-year-old Maye. If he thrives, the season will be seen as a success. And to give Maye the best chance of becoming a franchise quarterback, the Pats need to get a lot better at wide receiver. This was never going to be an easy fix, considering this offseason brought a weak group of available free-agent wide receivers and the draft wasn't anything special at the position. So the Patriots went in a slightly surprising direction to find their top option. They signed Stefon Diggs to a three-year contract even as he recovers from an ACL tear that could cause him to miss the start of the season. The hope with Diggs is twofold. First, the Pats need a veteran leader to help a position that came with plenty of drama and complaints a year ago, even as their production cratered. Second, they need someone who can be a top option for Maye. Advertisement Diggs, now 31, is no longer the receiver of 2020 who led the NFL in receiving yards. But the hope is he can be a steady, reliable option for Maye while getting eight to 10 targets a game. The Patriots also added Mack Hollins in free agency and then picked Kyle Williams in the third round. There are a lot of players who could fit here. Diggs could certainly be the X-factor. Same for Ja'Lynn Polk if he can come back from a historically terrible season. Maybe it's Douglas if he becomes the kind of slot receiver that gets tons of looks in Josh McDaniels' offense. But I'll go with Williams. The Patriots took the receiver with the 69th pick. The franchise's trend of draft busts at the position has to end at some point, right? Williams excels off the line of scrimmage, was great against man coverage in college and wins downfield. Those are three traits the Patriots sorely lacked last season. Given that, a lot rides on Williams' development. If he can become one of their top three options in 11 personnel, that would go a long way toward helping this offense, giving them Diggs on one side, Williams on the other and Douglas in the slot. If Williams lives up to the hype, that's a trio you can have success with. Rooks first look 🤩@TreVeyonH4 | @k_mmoneyyyy — New England Patriots (@Patriots) May 20, 2025 We got into it above, but the best-case situation involves Williams turning into a solid outside receiver who can put up at least 600 yards this season. But for the true best-case scenario, Diggs has to come back from injury (maybe reasonably in Week 4) and be a reliable top target for Maye, the kind of guy a young quarterback can turn to behind a potentially shaky offensive line. Diggs may not be the All-Pro he was earlier in his career, but it was just two years ago that he totaled 1,183 yards for the Bills. Advertisement The other factor here is Douglas. He was so impressive as a sixth-round rookie in 2023. That season, he ranked fifth among NFL wide receivers in yards after the catch per reception. Put the ball in his hands, and special things happened, despite the offense routinely being stuck in the mud. His advanced numbers dipped last season. But McDaniels' offense is best with a shifty slot receiver who can beat defenses over the middle. If Douglas can be that kind of reliable weapon, this group of receivers can rank among the middle of the pack in the NFL. And we haven't even mentioned Boutte, who can be a solid No. 4 after being one of a handful of players who exceeded expectations last season. This might be a painful exercise for a group that has already been the worst in the league for several years, but here we go. Diggs is 31 and is coming off a significant injury. He might deal with nagging effects from the ACL tear and never look like the guy he was before as his 32nd birthday looms during the season. Veteran Kendrick Bourne turns 30 during training camp, and his own ACL tear might've taken some speed from a receiver who couldn't afford to lose any. Polk looks like a total bust. Javon Baker hardly saw the field last year despite very little competition ahead of him. And while I'm high on Williams and think he'll be good, he's still a Patriots draft pick at wide receiver, and there's a fair chance it's another whiff there. This spot is similar to the offensive line. After having the worst group of wide receivers in the league, did they transform it enough that it should be set for the next couple of years? Absolutely not. Wide receiver will probably be a focus for them with their first-round pick next year. But the additions they made should be enough to improve the position meaningfully, even if it's still a below-average group. And — just like the O-line — even if they're a bottom-10 unit, it's probably enough for Maye to feel like his life has gotten significantly easier than a year ago.
