The New England Patriots are back in the playoffs after a three-year hiatus. But before they kick off against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night, there are several other players and coaches with ties to New England who are looking to make their own noise in the playoffs.
One of those players is former Patriots wide receiver Jakobi Meyers. After leaving New England following the 2022 season, Meyers found his way back to the playoffs after a midseason trade sent him from the Las Vegas Raiders to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
However, his return to the playoffs went far from the way he drew it up in his head.
Myers had a tough afternoon in Jacksonville’s 27-24 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday afternoon, catching just one pass for 12 yards on four targets. The last target came late in the fourth quarter as the Jaguars were looking to tie the game in the final minute.
Yet, Trevor Lawrence’s pass bounced off of Meyers' hands and into the arms of Cole Bishop for the game-sealing interception.
Patriots Dodged a Jakobi Meyers Bullet After Jaguars Playoff Dud
Looking back, this couldn’t have been how Meyers envisioned his return to the playoffs. He began his career as an undrafted free agent from North Carolina State entering the 2019 campaign and rose to become one of the Patriots’ top targets, catching 235 passes for 2,758 yards and eight touchdowns over four seasons.
Meyers cashed in on that performance in the spring of 2023 when he signed a three-year, $33 million contract with the Raiders. While he put up bigger numbers including his first 1,000-yard campaign in 2024, new Las Vegas general manager John Spytek wasn’t keen on the idea of giving him another extension, sending him to the Jaguars in exchange for a fourth-round and sixth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The fresh start seemed to rejuvenate Meyers when he arrived in Jacksonville, catching 42 passes for 483 yards and three touchdowns in nine games. The Jaguars also rewarded Meyers with a three-year, $60 million contract extension that puts him under contract through the 2028 season.
There’s a chance that things could go better when the extension kicks in next season, but it didn’t go Meyers’ way on Sunday. In addition to being a ghost on the field, it was a stunning performance considering the former Patriot had a delicious matchup and entered the contest as Lawrence's favorite target after quickly developing a rapport.
It’s also a dodged bullet for the Patriots, who were linked to Meyers before he was traded to Jacksonville last November. In addition to the draft capital that would have been required to make the move, New England would have had to pay up to keep him around, which wouldn’t have looked good considering Sunday’s performance.
There are some things that Meyers shouldn’t be blamed for as Lawrence appeared to miss a wide-open Washington on the game-sealing play. But for all the resources that Jaguars have sunk into Meyers, a No. 1 receiver makes that catch even with a defender draped over him.
This leaves Meyers to get a head start on his offseason and look to atone for his rough playoff appearance in 2026.