Eyebrows were raised when Jakobi Meyers signed a three-year contract with the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency worth up to $ 33 million.
That's a significant pay raise from the $ 6 million total Meyers made over four seasons with the New England Patriots, but some believed the 26-year-old could fetch at least $ 15 million per year on his next deal as one of the top wide receivers in free agency.
So, why did Meyers sign with the Raiders on a relatively team-friendly deal -- his total contract value ranks 29th among all NFL receivers -- instead of re-upping with the Patriots?
It's possible money was a factor -- Boston Sports Journal's Greg Bedard reported Wednesday on NBC Sports Boston's Boston Sports Tonight that the Patriots' contract offer to Meyers "wasn't that close" to the Raiders' -- but it sounds like Las Vegas enticed Meyers for several other reasons.
Patriots Talk: An airing of Jakobi Meyers' grievances | Listen & Follow | Watch on YouTube
For starters, Meyers raved about the state-of-the-art facilities at Allegiant Stadium, which opened in 2020 and which Bill Belichick called the "Taj Mahal" of football facilities.
"It's futuristic, honestly. It's unlike anything I've ever seen," Meyers said Thursday in his introductory press conference in Las Vegas. "I'm happy I get to take advantage of it. The things they've walked around and showed me, the training staff, equipment staff, the weight room -- I've never seen anything like it. I'm just really, really excited."
Meyers also reunites with former Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels on an offense that just signed ex-Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and includes one of the NFL's best receivers in Davante Adams.
"That was definitely a big (draw)," Meyers said of the opportunity to play with Adams. "Not even just him, though. You've got Hunter (Renfrow), you've got Josh Jacobs, Jimmy G. There's a bunch of guys on that offensive side of the ball that I was really excited (to play with).
"But just (Adams), 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. Just to come in here and see what greatness looks like, honestly, and how I can add that to my game, it was a no-brainer."
Curran: Jakobi Meyers' exit highlights Patriots' value disconnect
While the Raiders finished 6-11 last season, there's optimism heading into 2023 with Garoppolo under center and Meyers joining Adams, Renfrow and the NFL's leading rusher from 2022 in Josh Jacobs. Contrast that to the situation in New England, where the Patriots' offense ranked 26th in the NFL last season and didn't have a receiver outside Meyers top 550 receiving yards.
Add in the disparity between the Raiders' facilities and New England's, and it's easy to see why Meyers took his talents elsewhere.
The Patriots signed JuJu Smith-Schuster to a very similar contract Wednesday, and it's possible he could give New England similar or better production than Meyers as its No. 1 wide receiver. Meyers was a popular player in the Patriots' locker room, however, so if he outperforms Smith-Schuster this season, some in Foxboro may not be thrilled.
Check out Meyers' full press conference in the video below. (And yes, he talks about that play.)