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Jakobi Meyers poised to be featured weapon in Patriots offense

By Jacob Harrison

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 22: Jakobi Meyers #16 of the New England Patriots lines up during the preseason game between the Carolina Panthers and the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on August 22, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 22: Jakobi Meyers #16 of the New England Patriots lines up during the preseason game between the Carolina Panthers and the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on August 22, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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Despite his undrafted status, Jakobi Meyers has made a case to be a featured weapon for the Patriots who entered training camp with many questions at wide receiver.

A Patriots wide receiver with 19 catches for 225 yards and two touchdowns. If you had a guess one month ago who on New England’s squad had such a stat line through three preseason games, we’d all collectively and confidently say it’s 1st-round selection N’Keal Harry. And we’d all be wrong.

The stat line belongs to Jakobi Meyers, an undrafted, 6’2″-200lb receiver from North Carolina State.

Meyers went undrafted thanks in large part to his 4.63 40-time. But ever since he joined the Patriots, he’s been proving the NFL wrong seven times over and then some. He began by outshining Harry in training camp. Then, in Week 1, he exploded against the Detroit Lions, scoring both of his touchdowns in the win.

Making up for his speed, Meyers has run crisp routes and shown the strong hands that brought in 92 receptions for the Wolfpack his final season.

Though Brady and Meyers weren’t able to connect on two attempts during Thursday’s matchup with the Carolina Panthers, Meyers logged meaningful snaps with the first team. Now it’s hard to imagine this Patriots offense facing the Pittsburgh Steelers week one without Meyers in the lineup. Moreover, it’s now fair to expect him to be a featured weapon in the offense moving forward.

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Coming into the 2019 campaign, the wide receiver position was viewed as possibly the worst unit for the Patriots. Julian Edelman, coming off arguably his best season, was the only proven commodity for the defending Super Bowl champions. Beyond him were question marks.

Harry is expected to be a key piece in the offense, though that remains to be seen. Demaryius Thomas, coming off a torn Achilles with Houston, has to prove he can play at the same level he once did in Denver. Phillip Dorsett has shown flashes but has been otherwise inconsistent. The entire story around Josh Gordon left his future in jeopardy. Tack on Rob Gronkowski’s retirement, it was a wonder who Tom Brady could truly rely on in 2019.

Of course, as is the “Patriot Way,” Bill Belichick and company found a way to reload the position under everyone’s nose. In true New England fashion, they did it by bringing in a converted quarterback-to-receiver who has shown the grit and determination like that of so many unsuspecting Patriots receivers before him.

It should come as no surprise though. The Patriots have carved a dynasty out of unassuming receivers catching Brady’s passes.

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