It certainly hasn’t been a great year for wide receivers in the free agent and trade markets, but they’re the ones who’ve garnered attention over the past few hours.
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A sign that this is not an exceptional vintage is the defeated end of the Patriots Jakobi Meyers, who was the first in the group to win a major contract.
Meyers joined his former offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels with the Las Vegas Raiders on a three-year deal for $33 million.
Not an astronomical sum
Not to mention a negligible sum, it’s still a far cry from the astronomical amounts that the best recipients usually aim for.
Last season, the 26-year-old caught 67 passes for 804 yards and six touchdowns.
The Raiders will therefore rely on a group of receivers including Davante Adams, Hunter Renfrow and Meyers, with their other signing from the day before, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. This means Meyers no longer has to carry the group like he did in New England, a burden that is too great for him.
Waller traded
The Raiders also opted to discard another offensive weapon in Darren Waller, traded to the New York Giants for a third-round pick.
The tight end exploded in 2020 with 107 catches for 1,196 yards but has missed 14 games since then.
At the Jets
Eventually, Aaron Rodgers’ favorite Packers target, Allen Lazard, made the jump to the Jets. He couldn’t refuse her offer of 44 million for four years.
Again, Lazard hasn’t broken anything in his career, having just had his most prolific season with 60 receptions for 788 yards and six touchdowns.
Still on the side of guns on offense, the Eagles made a shot of their own that stayed under the radar but could pay off with a running back from Rashaad Penny. Behind one of the best offensive lines in the league, his career average of 5.7 yards per carry is enough to make your mouth water. In his first five seasons, however, he was subscribed to the infirmary more often than not.
Two more exchanges
The Cowboys, meanwhile, didn’t pay much to restore their secondary school by giving the Colts a fifth-round pick in exchange for veteran cornerback Stephon Gilmore. The duo with Trevon Diggs will improve his game against the pass.
For their part, the Texans traded a sixth pick with the Buccaneers for guard Shaq Mason and a seventh pick, a good trade knowing they must protect their future quarterback, who they will no doubt pick on the repechage.