Regarding Mac Jones, Jakobi Meyers said, “You could tell things would go bad.”
In an interview with Phil Perry for “The Next Pats Podcast” in Las Vegas, Jakobi Meyers discussed Mac Jones’ struggles over the previous two seasons in Foxboro.
In 2023, Jakobi Meyers observed the New England Patriots disintegrate from a distance.
After failing to reach an agreement with New England, the former wide receiver for the Patriots signed a three-year, $33 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders last spring. JuJu Smith-Schuster was instead signed by the Pats to a three-year contract worth approximately $25.5 million.
Meyers disclosed that the Patriots would not adjust their offer to Las Vegas by $1 million. In retrospect, that was a bad move because Meyers had the best season of his career. Smith-Schuster, meanwhile, found it difficult to stay on the pitch. He was essentially inconsequential when he was well enough to play.
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The Patriots’ wide receiving corps was lacking greatly in Meyers’ absence. Despite only playing in eight games, wideout Kendrick Bourne has the most touchdowns among wideouts with four, while rookie DeMario “Pop” Douglas led the team with 561 receiving yards.
One reason for quarterback Mac Jones’s downfall was the dearth of talent on offence. Jones was benched a few times in 2023, his rookie season as a Pro Bowler, until Bailey Zappe took over for the final month of the season. Although there’s no denying that Jones had some part to play in the Patriots’ 4-13 record, Meyers is not happy with the way the team has treated its former first-round quarterback. He discussed the matter in great detail with Phil Perry on a recent episode of the Next Pats Podcast.
I really don’t like it, honestly, man,” Meyers said to Perry. “And since Bailey Zappe is a dog as well, this isn’t a jab at Zap. I’m glad my boy is doing well and I like him. However, I kind of watched how that all played out with Mac over the past few years, and I feel like you could have seen it coming a few years ago and predicted that it would not go well.
“I don’t like to pick favourites, but I believe they needed to spend a little more time with him.Since I am aware that he is working in the building. There aren’t many people that work harder than him, in my opinion. I really don’t want to see it for him.
Perry questioned Meyers about whether or not he meant that Jones should have had more talent surrounding him by the Patriots.
Yes, in order to assist him. Like skill, coaching, whatever,” Meyers retorted. “Just putting him in a better position to win I think would’ve helped their programme a lot.”
Over Jones’ last two seasons with New England, Meyers developed a close relationship with him. Could he have done anything to stop Jones’s career from going the way it has?
Perry questioned Meyers about whether he meant that the Patriots ought to have had more talent surrounding Jones.
Yes, in order to support him. As in skill, coaching, you name it,” Meyers retorted. “Just putting him in a better position to win I think would’ve helped their programme a lot.”
Over his last two seasons with New England, Meyers and Jones developed a close relationship. Could he have played a role in averting Jones’ current career trajectory?
“I don’t know if I’m that powerful, but I promise you I probably would have done my best to help because I understand the stress that comes with playing that position,” he stated. “I know it’s difficult, that position for that team and that city at the same time. Though I know the guys in that room were doing everything in their power to support him as well, I can assure you that I would have tried my hardest to assist. He’s just in a difficult situation.”
