Why Patriots signed JuJu Smith-Schuster over Jakobi Meyers
The two wide receivers signed identical contracts.
Based on initial reports, a reaction on Twitter by one of the two wideouts and insight from a former team leader, it appears the New England Patriots simply picked JuJu Smith-Schuster over Jakobi Meyers as they were choosing a free-agent receiver.
Meyers signed a three-year, $33 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders on Tuesday. The full details are not out yet, but based on initial reporting, Smith-Schuster also signed a three-year, $33 million contract with the Patriots.
Meyers’ response to that report was telling: “Cold world lol.”
On WEEI Wednesday morning, Patriots retired safety Devin McCourty said he believed Meyers wanted to stay with the Patriots. So, why did New England pick Smith-Schuster instead? It seems, on paper, to make more sense to retain the wide receiver who knows the system and already has chemistry with quarterback Mac Jones.
One source said Smith-Schuster is better after the catch and as a playmaker but, “they aren't far apart, though.”
Smith-Schuster is actually 13 days younger than Meyers despite having been in the NFL for two more seasons. Smith-Schuster has the more productive seasons from a receptions, yards and touchdowns perspective. He’s also better built and tested better coming out of USC, but he’s not a dramatically better athlete than Meyers. As a second-round pick vs. an undrafted free agent, Smith-Schuster comes with a better pedigree.
Meyers has been more durable throughout his NFL career. He’s missed six out of a possible 66 games (9.1 percent). Smith-Schuster has missed 19 of a possible 98 games (19.3 percent).
Smith-Schuster averaged a career-high 6.0 yards after catch per reception in 2022. Meyers averaged 3.5 yards after catch per reception in 2022 and has a career-high of 4.4 in a limited sample size as a rookie.
And while their yards per reception are close (11.9 for Smith-Schuster and 11.7 for Meyers), JuJu has 29 career touchdowns to Meyers’ eight. Smith-Schuster also is better at breaking tackles and had more 40-plus yard receptions in 2022.
Both players have the size to play outside and the ability to get open to play in the slot. Neither wide receiver is exactly a track star.
Perhaps the strangest part of New England signing Smith-Schuster is they could have signed him on cheap short-term deals in each of the last offseasons. He signed a one-year, $8 million deal in 2021 with the Pittsburgh Steelers and a one-year, $3.76M deal that turned into $10.2 million with incentives in 2022 with the Kansas City Chiefs. The Patriots are signing Smith-Schuster at one of his career peaks after a good season in Kansas City.
Meyers’ deal is essentially a one-year contract with team options in 2024 and 2025. We’ll post Smith-Schuster’s contract when we get it, and maybe that will be more telling in why Smith-Schuster was the choice over Meyers. For now, they’re close, but Smith-Schuster has the edge in his ability to pick up yards after catch and his ability to make plays. We’ll find out in three years if it was the right decision.
Featured image via Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
