As the Las Vegas Raiders‘ preseason rolls on, many of their high-end players are under team control with new contracts. Stars like defensive end Maxx Crosby and quarterback Geno Smith got paid as the organization ushers in a new era. Heck, even punter AJ Cole got what he deserved or would’ve earned on the market.
One particular situation, though, remains unresolved. It’s no secret that head coach Pete Carroll and company are fond of wideout Jakobi Meyers. Despite that, the veteran pass catcher is in the final year of his current deal.
Where do both sides stand on a potential long-term pact? Meyers was asked about that on Thursday.
Jakobi Meyers’ Comments on Raiders Future Aren’t Confidence-Inspiring
To be more specific, Meyers was asked about potentially being a part of the Smith timeline. He’s in town through at least the 2025 and, presumably, 2026 seasons. Does Meyers want to be around as the Raiders look to restore their winning ways?
The brief answer doesn’t sway things in either direction.
“As much as they want me here,” Meyers said. “You know what I mean? That’s really all I can say about that one.”
Meyers’ take can be interpreted in a few ways. On one hand, the former undrafted free agent didn’t indicate he doesn’t want to stay in town. Both he and the Raiders have seemingly maintained a decent relationship throughout the offseason. On the other hand, neither side has budged and no buzz is being publicly generated regarding a new deal being on the horizon. The true state of the union could be in the middle: Meyers and Las Vegas are in wait-and-see mode.
That’s a risky place to be. After all, Meyers is coming off the best season of his career. In 2024-25, he set personal bests for receptions (87), yards (1,027) and drop rate (0.8%). That’s despite catching passes from Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell. Set to turn 29 in November, this could be his last chance to cash out on another sizable multi-year pact. He has ample reason to wait, as his price isn’t going to drop barring injury.
If the Raiders do get something done, what could the price tag be? Meyers’ average salary of $11 million will undoubtedly spike. According to Over The Cap, that figure ranks 31st among current wideouts. Could something similar to the deal of Calvin Ridley ($23M per year), Christian Kirk ($18M) or Jerry Jeudy ($17.5M) make sense? Perhaps.
Meyers & Las Vegas Offense Learning on the Fly Prior to Week 1
The question is whether Meyers should be a foundational part of the Raiders’ continued rebuild. Their passing offense surely needs high-end production, even if he’s more of a great No. 2 receiver than a bona fide No. 1. A year ago, per SumerSports, Las Vegas ranked 24th in EPA/pass. Meyers shined anyway, grading out as Pro Football Focus‘ No. 24 wide receiver out of 98 qualified players.
Now, Smith brings a stabilizing presence to the quarterback room. Carroll injects culture into a franchise that desperately needed it. Chip Kelly is attempting to make this go-round in the NFL a better one than he’s had in the past. That much change is a challenge, said Meyers, but it’s something everyone is more than willing to welcome.
“I mean, any time there’s change, I feel like it’s a little uncomfortable, but I’ve been trying to embrace it with open arms,” Meyers said. “Different terminology, different strategy, but it’s been cool to just learn more football. I’ve been enjoying it.”
Meyers did get some help this offseason. The Raiders drafted multiple receivers — Jack Bech in round two, Dont’e Thornton Jr. in round four and Tommy Mellott in round six — in April. With that said, there’s still plenty of doubt surrounding this room. The volume of players taken also brings to question the viability of keeping Meyers past his current deal.
Oftentimes, these matters have a way of working themselves out. Either way, Meyers is going to get paid by someone.
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