Patriots Sign JuJu Over Jakobi: ‘Cold World’ or Strictly Business?
FOXBORO -- The New England Patriots made their long-awaited splash into the 2023 NFL free agency pool by signing former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith Schuster.
Just one day removed from former top wideout Jakobi Meyers agreeing to terms with the Las Vegas Raiders on a three-year, $33 million contract, the Pats inked Smith-Schuster to a deal of eerily similar components to that of Meyers’ pact with the ‘silver and black.’
In fact, New England’s new power slot specialist was originally reported to have signed a three-year contract worth $33 million.
Naturally, the question on everyone’s mind began to circulate throughout social media.
Why Juju, but not Jakobi?
Simply put, it’s a ‘cold world’ in Foxboro, Massachusetts.
Apparently, Meyers learned that lesson the hard way.
While the term ‘cold world’ instinctively conjures up images of Patriots head coach Bill Belichick sporting a sinister grin as the terms of Smith-Schuster’s contract reached the collective consciousness of the NFL universe — including Meyers — its true meaning is far less nefarious than some would have you believe.
For starters, any suggestion of the Patriots offer to Smith-Schuster being a ‘shot’ at Meyers is nothing more than an attempt to stir a stale narrative stew. New England’s free-agency modus operandi has typically involved assigning value — in this case, a specific price — to a given commodity. Save for the most extreme of circumstances, that value remains steadfast.
While multiple reports have indicated that the Pats failed to make a concerted effort to retain Meyers, they did have interest in keeping him. In fact, their willingness to sign Smith-Schuster to a deal of similar financial terms hints at their ‘value’ for a sure-handed power slot receiver.
It is also the reason why New England ‘chose’ Juju over Jakobi …
Meyers eventually signed a three-year, $33 million contract with the Raiders, including a $5.5 million signing bonus and $21 million guaranteed.
Though comparable, the deals were not identical.
Once additional contract details were made available, it became evident that the base value of Smith-Schuster’s contract was, in fact, $25.5 million, with $16 million in guarantees. The 26-year-old newest Patriot is able to earn up to $33 million, with earned incentives comprising the difference between the base value and the maximum value.
Simply put, the bonus/guaranteed money in Meyers’ offer from Las Vegas was more than what the Patriots were offering.
More importantly, it was more than they were willing to exceed, or even match.
Accordingly, the follow-up question would be “Why?”
After all, Meyers led all Pats receivers in yards with 804 and six touchdowns, further establishing himself as the team’s top pass-catching option, and quarterback Mac Jones’ favorite target.
However, it seems the Patriots’ pass-catching plans under new offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien were not contingent to Meyers’ remaining with the club. O’Brien specializes in coordinating an offense which features ball protection, efficient running and spreading the ball to multiple pass catchers to facilitate gaining notable yards after the catch.
Though Meyers is a solid receiver in many facets of the game, his is not known for his ‘YAC’ prowess.
Unsurprisingly, it is in this capacity where Smith-Schuster provides greater value.
The former USC Trojan possesses the ability to routinely gain yards after the catch. In fact, per NFL Next Gen Stats (as transcribed by Pats Pulpit, SB Nation), Smith-Schuster earned 141 yards above expectation last season — the fifth-highest number in the league.
By comparison, the entire Patriots’ receiving corps combined gained just 33 yards after the catch in 2022.
When compared with Meyers on average, Smith-Schuster easily won the battle. He ranked ninth in the league with an average of 5.8 yards-after-catch per reception. Conversely, Meyers ranked just 46th with 3.6.
While Meyers may have been the Patriots most reliable pass catcher since Tom Brady’s departure, his logistical fit (or lack thereof) within O’Brien’s offense likely led the team to different priorities this offseason.
As a result, JuJu Smith-Schuster is now a New England Patriot, while Jakobi Meyers joins old friend Josh McDaniels in Las Vegas.
Though it may be a “cold world,” it wasn’t personal.
It was strictly business.
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