ReportWire

Tag: Jakobi Meyers

  • NFL trade deadline winners and losers: Eagles, Ravens make sensible moves while Colts, Cowboys take big swings

    [ad_1]

    The NFL’s trade deadline has come and gone. Many teams attempted to improve their rosters via trade market, some bad teams went for the addition-by-subtraction approach, some teams just stood pat, and two team truly took an enormous swing.

    Time will tell if these decisions were the right ones for the respective teams, but here’s a look at our winners and losers from the deadline moves:

    Winners 🍾🍾🍾

    Philadelphia Eagles: Although they really could’ve used a no-doubt-about-it cornerback opposite Quinyon Mitchell, the right market didn’t surface for them. Did they panic? No. They strengthened their pass rush with a no-brainer addition of Jaelan Phillips for a third-rounder and added two defensive backs (Michael Carter II, Jaire Alexander) at low cost for depth and optionality. If all else fails at corner, they can move Cooper DeJean outside and play Carter at nickelback. Either way, the defense is in better shape now than before the deadline.

    Baltimore Ravens: With improved health in the secondary, the Ravens needed help in the pass rush to make up for the loss of Pro Bowl iDL Nnamdi Madubuike (neck) for the season. The trade for Titans OLB Dre’Mont Jones is the perfect addition to a defense that has just 11 sacks and has relied too much on blitzing.

    New York Jets: They got two first-round picks from the Colts for CB Sauce Gardner, who made All-Pro in his first two seasons but has since regressed some, and another from Dallas for DT Quinnen Williams along with a second-rounder from Dallas. The Jets need a future quarterback, and new GM Darren Mougey now has plenty of ammo to move up in the draft for one – five first-round picks over the next two seasons – and rebuild the roster. It’s risky to give up on proven talent for assets, but the Jets need as many chips as possible to find their future QB.

    Seattle Seahawks: Sam Darnold is on fire, and the Seahawks needed to capitalize on it by giving him more firepower. With his blazing speed, former Saints WR Rashid Shaheed will be an ideal deep-threat complement to emerging star WR Jaxson Smith-Njigba, who can do damage at all levels of the field. Shaheed already knows the offense, as Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak held the same position last season for New Orleans. Shaheed could push the Seahawks ahead in the tight NFC West race. A fourth- and fifth-round pick wasn’t too much for what Shaheed brings.

    Los Angeles Rams: You might’ve forgotten they acquired CB Roger McCreary from the Titans last week, or you might not have even known who McCary is. It’s not a splashy move but McCreary can play the slot, which lets the Rams use emerging star DB Quintin Lake in a hybrid playmaking role on the back end. The Rams play exotic coverages that blend well with their young, imposing defensive front. Having McCreary and Lake patrol the defensive backfield alleviates some of their issues at outside corner.

    Losers 🤯🤯🤯

    Dallas Cowboys: Decided to “upgrade” the NFL’s second-worst defense by trading for a linebacker who couldn’t even get on the field for the NFL’s worst defense. You can’t make this up. Maybe LB Logan Wilson wasn’t the best scheme fit for Al Golden’s defense in Cincinnati but it’s hard to see him as the savior for a Cowboys defense that has holes everywhere, especially the secondary. Then they traded a first-round and second-round pick along with DT Mazi Smith for DT Quinnen Williams, a Pro Bowl lineman who surely helps their defensive front but is also on his second contract. How many more good years will they get from Williams compared to what a first-round pick could give them? Giving up multiple high picks is the kind of move a team makes if the player being acquired is the difference-maker for a Super Bowl run. Dallas isn’t one or two moves from Super Bowl contention. The Cowboys should’ve saved their assets.

    Indianapolis Colts: Giving up two first-round picks and a top-55 pick in WR Adonai Mitchell for CB Sauce Gardner only works if a) Gardner regains All-Pro form, and b) if the Colts are committed to QB Daniel Jones for the future. What happens if Jones, who just struggled against the Steelers, regresses in the second half? If Jones isn’t the long-term answer, the Colts have no ammo to get another quarterback. Also, Gardner’s base salary balloons to more than $20 million annually for the next three seasons, so Gardner needs to play like a top-five corner for this to work out. I appreciate the big swing from GM Chris Ballard, but it could be a swing from his ankles. 

    Green Bay Packers: Despite losing star TE Tucker Kraft for the season, Green Bay sat still and didn’t try to help an offense that’s sporadic or a defense that could’ve used some assistance in the secondary. Browns TE David N’Joku would’ve been a solid add, especially with as many two-tight end formations that the Packers like to employ. After making a titanic splash to compete for a Super Bowl by trading for Micah Parsons, Green Bay’s quiet trade deadline is disappointing. The Packers are still good, but they missed an opportunity to become elite.

    Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jags at 5-3 aren’t serious contenders. They just barely beat the Raiders and recently lost Travis Hunter to injured reserve from a knee injury he suffered at practice. Spencer Rattler, Geno Smith, Carson Wentz and Bryce Young all have higher passer ratings than Trevor Lawrence (71.5). The new GM should be pawning off RB Travis Etienne and other pieces to stockpile draft picks. Instead, the Jags surrendered two picks for WR Jakobi Meyers, a seventh-year slot receiver who has had one 1,000-yard season for a bad Raiders team. Even worse, Meyers will be a free agent after the season. That’s a dubious overpay for two months of a slot receiver.

    Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes is a few yards away from being their second-leading rusher and one rushing touchdown from sharing the team lead. Isiah Pacheco is hurt again and can’t be relied on to stay healthy. The Chiefs couldn’t find a way to do better here? There’s a bunch of ball carriers out there who could’ve helped – Jerome Ford, Tony Pollard, maybe even Breece Hall. They missed an opportunity to ease the burden on Mahomes.


    SIGN UP HERE to receive PhillyVoice’s Sports newsletters.


    Follow Geoff on Twitter/X: @geoffpmosher

    Like us on Facebook: PhillyVoice Sports

    [ad_2]

    Geoff Mosher

    Source link

  • Raiders Insider Reveals Bad News for Jakobi Meyers

    [ad_1]

    Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers is not enthralled with the way the team has handled his contract status.

    Meyers is entering the final year of his pact and wants a new deal, but the Raiders don’t appear to be in any rush to extend him. And based on a report from Tashan Reed of The Athletic, Meyers might be waiting for a while and could find himself out of Las Vegas by the end of the year.

    More news: NFL Exec Takes Aim at San Francisco 49ers QB Brock Purdy

    Reed has revealed one of the biggest reasons why the Raiders have not extended Meyers, and it’s due to the presence of rookie receiver Jack Bech.

    “Another factor that could be causing the Raiders to hold off on extending Meyers is they spent their second-round pick this year on receiver Jack Bech, who’s currently a backup,” Reed wrote. “Meyers and Bech have similar skills — they’re best when working from the slot — which makes it more difficult for them to share the field.”

    Reed added that while Bech could definitely serve as a backup this fall, Las Vegas probably doesn’t want him to ride the bench in 2026 because it would then be a “wasted pick” for the Silver and Black.

    LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 16: Jakobi Meyers #16 of the Las Vegas Raiders runs off the field during halftime against the San Francisco 49ers in a NFL Preseason 2025 game at Allegiant Stadium on…


    Getty Images

    That absolutely makes sense from a team-building perspective. The Raiders added a pair of wide outs in Bech and Dont’e Thornton in the NFL Draft back in April, and they would obviously prefer to cultivate those two moving forward.

    That may prove difficult — particularly in the case of Bech — if Meyers stays on the roster long term. Plus, Meyers may have priced himself out of the Raiders’ range after hauling in 87 receptions for 1,027 yards and four touchdowns last season.

    Given the price surge in the wide receiver market over the last couple of years, Meyers — who had never logged 1,000 yards in five seasons before 2024 — may be angling for a contract Las Vegas is not willing to pay.

    More news: Panthers’ Bryce Young Slammed by NFL Exec for Problem He Can’t Fix

    “If the Raiders don’t commit to Meyers by the end of the year, he’ll likely be headed elsewhere once he hits free agency next offseason,” Reed wrote.

    It’s looking more and more like Meyers will be playing elsewhere in 2026, if not sooner.

    For more on the Raiders and NFL, head to Newsweek Sports.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Three Receivers The Green Bay Packers Should Consider Trading For — Immediately

    Three Receivers The Green Bay Packers Should Consider Trading For — Immediately

    [ad_1]

    On Nov. 19, 1996, the Green Bay Packers went to Dallas, couldn’t find the endzone and dropped a 21-6 decision to the defending Super Bowl champion Cowboys.

    Green Bay’s preferred starters at wide receiver — Robert Brooks and Antonio Freeman — were both injured at the time. So the following day, general manager Ron Wolf signed former Pro Bowler Andre Rison off the street.

    Two months later, those Packers won the 31st Super Bowl with Freeman and Rison as their starting receivers.

    Today, the Packers are in a similar pinch.

    Green Bay played without Sammy Watkins (hamstring) and Christian Watson (hamstring) in its 27-10 loss to the New York Jets Sunday. Then during the game, the Packers lost Randall Cobb to an ankle injury that could be serious.

    “Certainly it hurts our offense when he’s not out there,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said of Cobb. “I hope he’s all right, but I don’t know.”

    Green Bay’s wide receiver room was already mediocre, at best, when the season began after it traded away Davante Adams. Now, the Packers are razor thin.

    That means it’s time for general manager Brian Gutekunst to trade for a receiver as soon as possible.

    The NFL’s trading deadline is Nov. 1, but Gutekunst should get busy as soon as possible.

    The Packers have lost two straight games, are 3-3 and need as much time as possible to get their struggling offense fixed. The longer a new wideout would have to develop chemistry with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the better.

    Here are three wideouts who could make sense for Green Bay — both on the field and financially.

    Chase Claypool, Pittsburgh

    The Steelers are in a mini-rebuild in the post-Ben Roethlisberger era. And Claypool could be had for the right price.

    Claypool had 121 receptions, 1,733 yards and 11 touchdowns his first two years in the league. But his numbers have dropped significantly (23-225-1) with Kenny Pickett and Mitch Trubisky under center this year.

    Pittsburgh extended the contract of wideout Diontae Johnson last summer, then took receivers George Pickens in the second round and Calvin Austin III in the fourth this spring.

    Claypoool, who’s in year three of his four-year rookie deal, has a base salary of just $1.1 million this year. So Green Bay — which is $8.03 million under the cap according to Spotrac — would have plenty of room to add Claypool.

    Jakobi Meyers, New England

    The Patriots have won two straight games, improved to 3-3 and have a soft schedule coming. But if Bill Belichick decides to be a seller at the deadline, Meyers would have value.

    Meyers leads New England in catches (24) and yards (321) despite playing in just four games.

    Meyers signed a one-year, $3.986 million deal with New England this season, but will become a free agent after the year ends. So if the Patriots don’t see him in their long-term plans, they could move him now and get back draft capital.

    Robbie Anderson, Carolina

    The Panthers will be in full rebuild mode this offseason, following the recent firing of coach Matt Rhule. And Anderson is on the outs with the organization after being sent to the locker room Sunday following an argument with his position coach.

    Anderson is a talented player who had 95 catches for nearly 1,100 yards just two seasons ago.

    Anderson’s base salary is just $1.03 million, which makes him attractive to teams.

    [ad_2]

    Rob Reischel, Contributor

    Source link