The Jacksonville Jaguars traded for Jakobi Meyers at the NFL deadline because they needed help at receiver. Right off the bat, he changed their offensive outlook, and the team's brass is wasting no time rewarding him for the impact he's had.
Meyers signed a three-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023. He was slated to become a free agent next offseason, but the Jags value him enough that they've made him part of their long-term plans.
The Jaguars are giving Jakobi Meyers a 3-year extension
Adam Schefter of ESPN broke the news that the Jaguars are giving Jakobi Meyers an extension that runs through 2028, meaning that he inked a three-year deal. On a later tweet, Schefter added that the contract was worth $60 million with $40 million guaranteed, so the former North Carolina Wolfpack will make an annual average of $20 million the next three seasons.
Since joining the Jaguars, Meyers has hauled in 27 catches for 355 yards and three touchdowns. Aside from giving Trevor Lawrence a trusted target in the middle of the field, his presence has allowed fellow receiver Brian Thomas Jr. to line up in the perimeter, where he's at his best, and run more vertical routes.
Coincidentally, the Jags have no longer struggled with drops and have averaged more than 30 points since Meyers' arrival. It's fair to say that he deserved a salary bump.
An undrafted free agent in 2019, Meyers spent four seasons with the New England Patriots before joining the Raiders in 2023. He then landed with the Jags via trade at the Nov. 4 deadline. In 104 games with 80 starts, the Lithonia, Georgia native has hauled in 453 receptions for 5,299 yards with 23 touchdowns.
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Why the Jaguars extended Jakobi Meyers now instead of waiting
Back in the offseason, Jakobi Meyers made it clear that he wanted to get an extension. Once the Las Vegas Raiders showed that they weren't interested in giving him a new deal, he requested a trade. Eventually, they caved and traded him to the Jaguars in return for fourth and sixth-round picks. Based on how much of a game-changer he's been, it's fair to say that they're getting plenty of bang for their buck.
Meyers has seen his stock soar in recent weeks, and the more Jacksonville waited, the more they would have had to fork out in free agency. Moreover, he would've been on demand if he had hit the open market, so instead of losing him or having to use the franchise tag, the front office went ahead and gave him a deal that he couldn't refuse.
Props to James Gladstone for having the foresight to lock up Jakobi Meyers. Now, the Jaguars won't have to worry about losing one of their most productive and reliable offensive weapons in 2026.