Pats sitting on their wallets so far
Two days into free agency, the Patriots are sitting on the side of the pool.
No splashes. Just dipping their toes in the water, gathering with old friends and waving one goodbye.
Wide receiver Jakobi Meyers agreed to terms on a threeyear, $33 million contract Tuesday with Las Vegas, a source confirmed to the Herald. Meyers will receive $21 million guaranteed in his new deal, which fell short of projections for the best wideout available and allows the Raiders to cut ties without penalty next offseason.
The Patriots also re- signed safety Jabrill Peppers and added a new offensive tackle.
But as of late Tuesday night, the Patriots continued to sit out the initial waves of free agency despite holding the fifth-most cap space in the NFL and ranking dead last by 2023 cash spending, per Over The Cap.
Meyers' departure suddenly leaves the offense with a major hole at wide receiver. Last year, he caught 67 passes for 804 yards and six touchdowns and repeatedly expressed an interest in returning to New England. Meyers has led the Pats in receiving each of the past three seasons, when But losing top rethe point, do they have a plan? and make something happen. teammates and coaches often receiver Jakobi Meyers Boosting the receiving corps They can't simply bank on ferred to him as one their most on Tuesday was a headwas one of the primary areas Bill O'brien, who was essendependable and consistent players.scratcher.especiallythepatriotsneededtoimprovetiallyhiredtofixthemessleft given the affordable in order to put a more comin wake of having two unqualfter his deal was reported, three-year, $33 million petitive product on the field. ified coaches run the offense the 26-year- old spoke to NFL recontract he signed with In theory, that meant keeping last year, making everything porter Josina Anderson and exthe Las Vegas Raiders. Meyers, while also adding a right. plained his decision to leave New
Talk about a bargain. bona fide No. 1 difference-makWhile Jones and the offense England.
This would have been ing receiver. will benefit from having a le“It's hard to turn down Las Vea great deal for the PaThe hope now is that the Pagitimate offensive coordinator gas when you look at their offense, triots given early projections of triots still have something up this year, O'brien also needs when you look at their coaches. what Meyers was expected to their sleeve, something that the right players to work with. They wanted me, I wanted them,” get on the open market. will finally vault them into this He needs playmakers. Meyers said. “Unfortunately it
Only, the Pats didn't put up decade when it comes to fieldLet's just say the Patriots didn't work out with the Patrimuch of a fight. They let Mac ing a competitive NFL offense. better have more bullets in the ots. I put a lot of effort in my time Jones' favorite receiver, his This just can't be it. Someholster in the days to come. there. I appreciate them, but God most trusted go-to-guy, walk thing else has to happen. The They better have a plan to seworks in mysterious ways. I'm away into the open arms of Patriots are being lapped in riously upgrade at receiver, blessed.”
Josh Mcdaniels. Worse, even the division by the Bills, Dolalong with bolstering offenWithout Meyers, the Patriif they tried to retain Jones' phins and Jets. They can't consive tackle (sorry, signing Calots' receivers room is down to binkie, Meyers didn't seem all tinue to sit on their wallets, vin Anderson doesn't move the Devante Parker, Kendrick Bourne that enamored with returnwhether it's in free agency, or needle) and cornerback, just and Tyquan Thornton, plus pracing. He made it clear Las Vegas going the trade route. for starters. tice-squad players Tre Nixon and gave him what he was lookThey certainly have the cap While the draft is part of Lynn Bowden Jr. Thornton is the ing for. space (in the neighborhood of the equation, the Patriots don't only player of the group under Ouch! $30 million) to do much more. typically like to wait and leave contract past next season. In JanSo what's the plan? More to And there's still time to rally,