Morning Sports Update

What NFL experts have to say about Jakobi Meyers as a 2023 free agent

"Those aren't typically the types of players that Bill Belichick spends on in the offseason."

By Hayden Bird

November 16, 2022

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Tonight, the Celtics face the Hawks in Atlanta at 7:30 p.m.

On Thursday, the Bruins host the Flyers at 7 p.m.

And on Sunday, the Patriots play the Jets at Gillette Stadium (1 p.m.) in a crucial AFC East matchup.

Jakobi Meyers beyond the 2022 season: Through nine games, Jakobi Meyers has more than twice as many catches (40) as any other Patriots wide receiver. His value to Patriots quarterbacks is clear, as the regular (and advanced) statistics demonstrate.

Following the season, Meyers’ contract expiries. Would the 26-year-old leave New England?

In separate recent examinations of upcoming NFL free agents, both ESPN and Pro Football Focus weighed in on the subject.

PFF writer Brad Spielberger ranked Meyers as the ninth best upcoming free agent, noting that while Bill Belichick may try to keep the wide receiver, history indicates that the Patriots might be willing to let him head elsewhere.

“New England may certainly try to keep Meyers around, likely letting Nelson Agholor reach free agency at the least,” Spielberger wrote, “but they’ve also made it a habit of letting players walk after their rookie contract value is gone, notably with another former undrafted free agent in cornerback J.C. Jackson last offseason.”

ESPN analyst (and former NFL general manager) Mike Tannenbaum took a harsher view of Meyers’ value.

“I definitely like Meyers’ skill set, but he’s also a replaceable player,” Tannenbaum wrote. “Those aren’t typically the types of players that Bill Belichick spends on in the offseason. I’d look for the Patriots to draft a receiver who could develop into a true No. 1 option.”

Of course, Belichick and the Patriots haven’t exactly had the best success using higher draft picks on wide receivers. That said, New England’s 2022 second-round pick, Tyquan Thornton, could prove to be the player that Tannenbaum was referencing. The rookie’s development might be an eventual factor in how the team handles Meyers’ impending free agency.

Trivia: Jakobi Meyers has thrown two touchdown passes in his career. Can you name the players who caught those passes?

(Answer at the bottom.)

Hint: One is a former NFL MVP (2015), while the other was originally a Bengals draft pick who plays for the Texans in 2022.

More from Boston.com:

• Bruins hire independent firm to review their player vetting process following Mitchell Miller signing
• Which starting pitchers the Red Sox have reportedly shown interest in this offseason
• LeSean McCoy said Bill Belichick is comparable to Rex Ryan and Marvin Lewis without Tom Brady
• Marcus Smart’s heroics help Celtics grind out win over Thunder: 6 takeaways
• ‘I don’t think he meant any harm’: Jaylen Brown expresses discomfort with length, nature of Kyrie Irving’s suspension
• Watch: David Pastrnak made a humorous cameo after Celtics-Thunder, interviewing himself
• ‘I’m actually laughing’: Kevin Durant criticized the technical foul called against Jayson Tatum in Celtics-Thunder
• Veteran skippers Terry Francona, Buck Showalter voted Managers of Year
• Cooper Kupp heads to IR after ankle surgery

Baseball skills on ice: Sam Reinhart of the Panthers batted the puck out of mid-air into the goal during a 5-2 win over the Capitals.

On this day: In 1957, the Celtics and Bruins both won thanks to a few Hall of Famers. For the Celtics, Bill Russell totaled an incredible 49 rebounds (then a record) along with 28 points in a 111-89 win over the Philadelphia Warriors.

And for the Bruins, Johnny Bucyk was among the goal-scorers in a 4-2 win over the Maple Leafs in a game

Daily highlight: Tyree Appleby won it for Wake Forest at the buzzer on Tuesday in an overtime thriller against Utah State.

Trivia answer: Cam Newton, Rex Burkhead