Jakobi Meyers is excelling for the Patriots
The undrafted free agent out of N.C. State is making noise in New England.
There have been rumblings out of Patriots camp that undrafted free agent Jakobi Meyers was earning first team reps in practice and was quickly becoming a favorite target of legendary quarterback Tom Brady. He drew major interest when Brady remarked to the media after practice, “He’s done a great job and he’s taken advantage of his opportunities. I think that’s really what we try to stress to anybody,” quarterback Tom Brady noted on Meyers.”
Meyers has officially confirmed the hype.
In the Patriots 31-3 blowout win over the Lions on Thursday, Meyers had six receptions for 69 yards and two touchdowns. Meyers fought through a jam at the line of scrimmage on his first touchdown and displayed his shiftiness by shaking lose on a slant in the red zone to haul in his second score.
Brady didn’t play in the game, instead turning the ball over to Brian Hoyer and former Auburn quarterback Jarrett Stidham, but it’s easy to imagine Meyers becoming a reliable target for the veteran.
Meyers shocked many by declaring for the NFL Draft a year early out of N.C. State. He was a favorite target of quarterback Ryan Finley, bringing in 92 catches for 1,048 yards and four touchdowns last season, putting him seventh in the nation in receptions.
He initially started his Wolfpack career as a practice squad quarterback but the coaching staff quickly and accurately recognized his athleticism and switched him to wide receiver. After a year to learn the position, Meyers broke out in a big way.
Meyers was an unheralded two-star recruit and forced to make a position change to make an impact in college. Now he’s an undrafted free agent forcing his way onto the field with his play. The Patriots used their first-round pick on wide receiver N’Keal Harry, who had two catches for 36 yards in the preseason opener.
Despite his high draft status, Harry is at risk of being overshadowed by Meyers on the field.
After one preseason game, Meyers is clearly on the league’s radar. It’ll be interesting to see his role when Brady and other starters begin to take the field in preseason week two.