March 2022: The Los Angeles Rams had been lower than a month faraway from their Super Bowl parade and NFL free agency was simply underway. Fans had been a naive group prior to that 2022 offseason, having no concept about the storm of game-changing strikes that lay instantly in entrance of us. Before Russell Wilson to the Broncos, Davante Adams to the Raiders, Tyreek Hill to the Dolphins, and AJ Brown to the Eagles, there was one transfer that set all the big-name free agent signings into movement — Christian Kirk signing a four-year, $72 million (up to $84 million via incentives) cope with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Sure, this wasn’t the first transfer of the offseason, as the tweet above mentions, but it surely was the first main signing. Kirk had simply come off the greatest season of his profession, racking up 77 receptions, 982 yards, and 5 touchdowns with the Arizona Cardinals. Still, when phrase hit the web of Kirk’s deal, followers in every single place collectively tilted their heads in confusion. Sure, he was first rate, however not value up to $21 million a 12 months, proper?
Well, after one season in Jacksonville, the Jaguars appear to be geniuses. When thrust into the highlight, Kirk thrived, setting new profession highs in each class that issues. He expedited quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s improvement and his Jags are set to run the AFC South for years to come. Although paying somebody with as little success in the NFL as Kirk appeared questionable at the time, it paid dividends as a result of the Jaguars noticed what Kirk may grow to be. Every crew ought to be striving for a brand new fancy extensive receiver to assist their younger quarterback, even when it means paying a fairly penny. Hill helped Tua Tagovailoa. Brown helped Jalen Hurts. Although so many proficient receivers could not be out there via commerce as had been final offseason, the 2023 free-agent class nonetheless holds a couple of gems at the place, most notably 26-year-old Jakobi Meyers.
What about different free-agent WR expertise?
While different, extra established receivers like Super Bowl champ JuJu Smith-Schuster or Aaron Rodgers’ prime goal from 2022 Allen Lazard could be safer choices, the upside that Meyers brings to the desk is very harking back to pre-Jags Christian Kirk. Meyers thrives in the slot — though he has proven an capability to win on the exterior as properly. In 2022, he lined up in the slot for 333 offensive snaps (51.7 % of the time) — the Sixteenth-most slot snaps in the league. He accrued 67 receptions, 804 receiving yards, and 6 touchdowns in simply fourteen video games whereas working in a really run-heavy, conservative offense with subpar quarterback play and Matt Patricia as his offensive coordinator. That’s plenty of elements working towards Meyers, and but he confirmed flashes of prime receiver potential.
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Now, Kirk and Meyers don’t share a lot of the similar instruments. Kirk is a YAC monster with upper-end pace and elusiveness. Meyers excels in contested catch conditions. Over the final three years, he’s maintained a 69 % catch charge on contested balls. That’s one in every of the greatest marks in the league. However, the level nonetheless stays. Both gamers had been underutilized by the crew that drafted them and had the instruments to burst into stardom underneath the proper circumstances. Lucky for Meyers, Kirk paved the manner for the NC State product to earn an enormous payday forward of 2023.
Where can Meyers excel?
The next query ought to be “Okay, well clearly, the Patriots weren’t the right system to maximize Meyers’ talents. Who is?” The easiest reply would be to replicate a crew in the Jaguars’ scenario — good head coach, younger quarterback, stable run sport however not a run-heavy offense, and in want of expertise at receiver. The New York Giants fulfill three of these classes. Unfortunately, they’re a fairly run-heavy crew, rating twenty second in pass-play share final season. Furthermore, the run sport may not be as stable for Big Blue in 2023 ought to Saquon Barkley not be re-signed. The Colts and/or Texans are in all probability the most closely fits relying on what they do in the upcoming draft. Sure, each groups are heading into 2023 with rookie head coaches, which may additionally alter their pass-heavy tendencies from 2022 (rating ninth and tenth in the league), however that’s as shut to 4 test marks as we’re going to get.
Meyers’ deal may set the commonplace for the remainder of the 2023 free agent extensive receiver class as properly. In actuality, although, nobody, besides perhaps Smith-Schuster ought to come shut to the common annual worth Meyers will command. Odell Beckham Jr. is getting older and didn’t play in any respect final season. Allen Lazard had a possibility to take over all the targets Davante Adams left in Green Bay. He received outshined by a pair of rookie extensive receivers. Darius Slayton was inconsistent. Julio Jones simply ain’t the man he as soon as was.
The reality of the matter is that a number of groups watched different organizations pay massive cash for extensive receivers final offseason, and nearly all of them panned out precisely how their franchise had hoped. Even if Meyers doesn’t possess the expertise mandatory to explode in 2023 as Kirk did. I discover it onerous to suppose some crew received’t be prepared to take such a danger. Personally, although, I’ve religion in him. Don’t be shocked when it occurs.
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