Fans Sleeping On Meyers The Way They Slept On Edelman.

In 2021 the Patriots brought in four guys. Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne, Hunter Henry, and Jonnu Smith. Agholor was immediately projected to be receiver one and although I disagreed, Jonnu Smith was projected to be tight end one. By the end of the preseason there was a divide among fans over who was receiver one. Most thought it was Meyers but others were split between Bourne and Agholor. As for the tight ends, Henry was the clear number one (Duh).

In 2020 the Patriots pass catchers weren't that great. Although Meyers had improved the rest of the staff was abysmal. So they brought in Agholor in 2021. Agholor was coming off a season where he caught 48 of 82 targets for 896 yards and 8 touchdowns. The main gripe with Agholor was the Patriots seemed to have him running sprints and the Patriots didn't seem to trust Mac's arm to get Agholor the ball.

In 2021 Agholor caught 37 of 64 passes for 473 yards and 3 touchdowns but Meyers improved with another 40 targets. So they brought in Parker who's likely to play across from Agholor and to be used the same way. In 2021 Parker caught 40 of 73 passes for 515 yards and 2 touchdowns. Parker did miss 5 games but Agholor missed 2. Hunter Henry finally played a full year. He caught 50 of 75 passes for 603 yards and 9 touchdowns. 

While Parker and Agholor are stretching the outside, Agholor will be stretching the middle down the seam. This is going to open up the underneath stuff. Regardless if who the pass catchers are. 

Kendrick Bourne maybe a better athlete than Jakobi Meyers but he only had 70 targets compared to Meyers's 126. Meyers in his first year with Mac Jones, was his security blanket. I'm not knocking Bourne, he's a good player but there are those knocking Meyers. People saying Meyers on any other team is a number two or three. That's the arguement that was made about Julian Edelman and Jules stayed with the Patriots and was their number one receiver.

Bring that up to people who are against Meyers being the number one and they'll point out how Edelman had Gronkowski. Well in 2021 Meyers had Henry and Agholor. On top of that Meyers now has Parkers. In 2021 it was clear that Meyers was trusted over Bourne. That's not going to change unless the Patriots keep Meyers off the field. Possible but I don't see it happening. Mac Jones will spread the ball around and everyone will get their touches, however when Mac needs to be saved, odds are the ball is going to Meyers first, and Henry second.

The great thing about football is we can have difference of opinion because unlike politics, morals don't come into play. All we can do is wait and see. If Bourne has a better spot in the progression this season than Meyers, I won't be mad and I don't think many will be. However, as seen with Cam Newton in 2020 and Jonnu Smith in 2021, fans will be mad if Meyers has a better spot in the progression. They'll have excuses. We just have to accept things as they are, not how we think they should be. In football things don't always make sense and that's what makes the game exciting. As long as the Patriots are winning, who cares who has the better positioning.