New Las Vegas Raiders WR Jakobi Meyers

HENDERSON, Nev.--The Las Vegas Raiders have made a run at acquiring new talent for the team and accumulating picks in the upcoming NFL Draft.

New wide receiver Jakobi Meyers discussed being a member of the Silver and Black, and you can watch his entire press conference below and read the transcript:

Wide Receiver Jakobi Meyers

Q: Obviously you have a lot of familiarity with people in the building here. How much of a factor did that play in you coming to the Raiders?

Wide Receiver Jakobi Meyers: "A lot, like a whole bunch honestly, because I feel like when I first met Josh [McDaniels] he was just pushing me. Maybe at the time I wasn't his biggest fan, but looking back on my career, he helped me grow as a football player and as a man. So, it definitely played a big part as far as me choosing to come here. I just want to be a better person and a better player."

Q: You were here during the summer practicing. Were there any thoughts at that point in time like, 'Hey, this might be a place that I come to at some point?'

Meyers: "Honestly, I had never really been here, so that time I was just soaking it all in excited to see everything, the mountains. The mountains still throw me off when I see them - the heat for sure. But it definitely was a place I could picture myself at, I just didn't know how things would shake up in the future. I'm happy it did work out."

Q: You talked about Josh McDaniels helping you develop as a player and a man. Can you talk about his leadership style? What was it that appealed to you?

Meyers: "His thing is just ironing out all the details. I feel like if you take care of the little things with Josh [McDaniels], it'll make sure all the big things are erased. So, he definitely drilled home focusing on every single detail if that's route depth, step count, inside leverage, winning outside, he made sure he drilled it. And if you didn't do it the way he liked it, you repeated it. Like I said, it helped me as a man grow because it made me focus on the little things that matter in life not just football."

Q: Obviously, even though you're new to the team, you have a lot of familiarity being around the building with the joint practice and also the two times you played the Raiders last year. What's your thoughts on just the overall facility and also getting to play in Allegiant stadium?

Meyers: "It's futuristic honestly. It's unlike anything I've ever seen, and I'm happy that I get to take advantage of it. There's a lot of things they've walked me around and showed me, the training staff, the equipment staff, the weight room. I've never seen anything like it, and I'm just really, really excited. That's really all I can say honestly, just excited."

Q: How do you see your skill set fitting in with this team and their offensive weapons that they have?

Meyer: They've got some real dogs on the offensive side. I feel like they can really play football, and I'll just be another piece of the puzzle just trying to do my role and do my job and hopefully keep this machine rolling smoothly."

Q: You were undrafted coming out of college. Has it kind of set in for you to go from that to signing a big contract and your second contract in the NFL and having this opportunity?

Meyers: "I mean that's something I won't ever probably let myself forget. I remind myself every day, just don't get too big headed. At the end of the day you're still that undrafted kid from Georgia. But even saying that, there's still those moments it's like, 'Well you are that undrafted kid from Georgia.’ There's some precious moments, some precious moments my family. I know my mom has shed tears, my brothers, everybody I know they're proud. I'm happy that I went through and stuck it out. I smile when I think about it. I'm grateful. Just thank God honestly."

Q: How much of a draw was it for you to come to play with the Davante Adams? And how much are you looking forward to pairing up with him and working alongside him?

Meyers: "That was definitely a big -- not even just him though. You've got Hunter [Renfrow], you've got Josh Jacobs, Jimmy G [Garoppolo]. It's a bunch of guys on the offensive side of the ball that I was really excited (about). But just him, he's a great player, and I feel like that gives me something to look forward to as far as the next level of my game. So, just to come in here and just see what greatness looks like honestly and how I can just add that to my game, it was a no brainer."

Q: In high school you played quarterback. How much has that helped you grow as an NFL player seeing the game from a different lens?

Meyers: "I will say the fact that I played quarterback, and I played other sports is probably the reason I am who I am today. I've just learned how to adapt, I learned how to understand what quarterbacks need, where I need to be, when I need to be there. So, it really made it a smooth transition. I just had to learn how to probably block and not get tired so fast. But other than that, it was a smooth transition. I really appreciate playing quarterback."

Q: How familiar are you with Jimmy Garoppolo as a quarterback, and what's that relationship going to be like?

Meyers: "I feel like there's probably not too many players in the league who don't know Jimmy G [Garoppolo] is, right? And then he played as a Patriot, so I know who he is, I heard a lot about him. I heard about personality honestly, and I feel like that's probably the easiest thing, just a guy who's cool, calm, collected. Because I've seen him have good days, bad days, but I've always seen him with the same smile on his face. So, take away the x's and o's and the talent, I feel like that alone will be fun to play with."

Q: You hear so much and you see so much and you read so much about the Patriot way. In your opinion what is the Patriot way?

Meyers: "Honestly, if I could sum it up simply it's just putting the team before yourself. And I feel like it has a title, but that's just a way of life. So, it might end up being the Raider way, because I feel like I'm the type of guy who's really big on family. So, this is my family now, I've got to put my family before myself, and whatever I can do to help my family and help us grow as a team, as people, I'm going to try to do that.

Q: You've pretty much evenly played both outside and in the slot. What's gone into kind of refining your skill set at both of those spots, and what does it take to play both of those spots at a high level in the NFL?

Meyers: "I would say at both spots I've been equally strapped up. I've been guarded pretty well at both spots, so just trial and error. I try something one day, it didn't work, try something the next day and it did work. So, I try to learn a lot from the things that didn't work and remember the things that did work. At the end of the day you get what you got now. I mean I'm still trying things, I'm still learning things, I'm still getting strapped up, I'm still getting open, so it's a part of the game, they get paid too. But like I said, I'm enjoying the journey and just trying to figure it out the best I can."

Q: Last year you had a career-high six touchdowns, took your game to another level. Was there something you would say you did physically or mentally that kind of flipped the switch that created that success last season?

Meyers: "Honestly, I think I just wasn't scoring at first because I was trying to break the record, most catches no touchdowns, and then once I got it was like, 'Oh let's score now.' No, honestly it was just a trust thing. I had to earn trust day-by-day. It wasn't an easy road, I had a lot of a lot of new quarterbacks, so it was a lot of miscommunications or I messed something up and I wouldn't be in the position I need to be. So, I just feel like I really had to lock in and understand where I needed to be, exactly when I needed to be there and just making tough cases in tough situations, because the red zone is hard. It's hard to score down there. So like I said, just trying man, just trying to figure it out every day, getting better."

Q: What do you know about the Raider Nation? You were able to play out here last year, but you've mostly been out there on the East Coast, Georgia, Carolina, New England. Now being in Las Vegas, what do you know about the fan base?

Meyers: "Honestly, not too much. I know about the history of the team and the move and everything, but that's probably one of the most exciting opportunities for me, just to learn what it's like living out here and meeting people and what is like as far as support. I'm excited to get to meet everybody. I mean I'm not turning down any conversation, so if y'all ever want to talk or y'all are trying to go out, let's go, just hit me up. I really am excited to just embrace the community and embrace everybody."

Q: I'll be the guy that addresses the question about what happened here last year. Take us through your thoughts on that play? Have any of your new teammates maybe already given you a little bit of crap about it, and how important is it for you to create new memories in Las Vegas?

Meyers: "I mean, that was a humbling experience. As a man, as a football player, that was just tough. I knew what it meant to the team that I was on at the time, so it really hurt me because like I said, family is really big for me. So, when I went through it in the moment my heart was broken, but days after just seeing how guys kind of rallied around me, it built me up as a person. So, now I know whenever one of my teammates messes up, who I want to be in that situation, like how I want to help them, what type of love, what type of support I want to give. Now if you're asking directly what happened? I don't know. That's the truth, I really don't know. I had the ball then I didn't have the ball, that was the end of it. As far as growth, it taught me a lot about myself and how I want to help people in the future."

Q: How's that first interaction with Chandler Jones going to be?

Meyers: "Stay tuned, I'm going to have to see. I'll keep you posted for sure."

Q: You talked earlier about kind of learning what maybe Josh McDaniels was as a coach, it took a while for you to develop that. What changed in your mindset in your career that made you understand what maybe he was trying to do as a coach?

Meyers: "Learning myself. I feel like coming out of college I was still a young kid who thought I had all the answers, who just knew I was going to be a Hall of Famer, it didn't matter what you said to me. But I've been humbled a lot, I've lost a lot. And I feel like at the end of the day, I just want to be better. I want to be a better person, a better football player. So, I have to appreciate the people who are trying to get that out of me, and I don't think I appreciated it at first. But now just if you're willing to coach me the hard way, if you're willing to give me knowledge, I'm willing to learn and listen. It's been an eye- opening experience as I've grown in the league."

Q: You made a comment on Twitter yesterday about JuJu Smith-Schuster's contract in New England. Was there any animosity about how they handled your situation?

Meyers: "No, not for real. I mean, I just like messing with people honestly. I just like to get under people's skin. Honestly man, I appreciate them for everything that I've been through there. I never really got to say - well, I did get to say goodbye, but I never really got to tell them bye as I was leaving the building. So, that was just me being childish for real. But no, I love them, but I'm also happy to be here."

The NFL Draft will occur at Union Station in Kansas City, Mo., from Thursday, April 27 to Saturday, April 29. ESPN, ABC, and NFL Network will broadcast all seven rounds.

The 2023 NFL Year and Free Agency period began at 4 p.m. EDT on March 15. The Raiders are expected to be significant players in the free-agent market this season.

Watch the NFL Playoffs live when you get your Raiders tickets from SI Tickets HERE.

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