JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Jakobi Meyers spent the better part of his NFL career playing “out of hate and anger.”
Now, after signing a three-year, $60 million contract extension with the Jaguars on Friday, he has a “whole different feeling” heading into Sunday's game at Denver.
“I probably haven’t had this much belief behind me in a long time," said Meyers, 29, who got his professional start as an undrafted rookie free agent
with New England in 2019. "Just to be out there and play for people who believe in you and prove them right, it’s a whole different feeling. I feel like it kind of pushed me a little bit more than the anger did.”
Meyers' representatives and Jaguars general manager James Gladstone worked on the extension for weeks, an indication how well the relationship has worked after just a month together.
Jacksonville gave up two third-day draft picks in 2026 to acquire Meyers from Las Vegas at the trade deadline in early November. Meyers has 27 catches for 355 yards and three touchdowns in six games since and has quickly become quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s most dependable receiver.
“I’m hoping that they feel just as blessed as I do in this situation," Meyers said. "But if they don’t now, I’m hoping they feel it by the end at least.”
Meyers’ ability to make contested catches was his “superpower,” Gladstone said. Meyers has one drop this season and has never had more than two in any of his NFL seasons.
Meyers is one of a handful of guys who were afterthoughts — or not even on Jacksonville's roster — in training camp. The list includes receiver Tim Patrick, tight end Quintin Morris, left tackle Cole Van Lanen, defensive tackle Matt Dickerson, cornerback Greg Newsome II and pass-rushers Dennis Gardeck, Danny Striggow and B.J. Green.
“I think every guy understands that this is a production-based business, and guys can see who does what,” coach Liam Coen said. "I think the locker room typically knows their peers pretty well. So it’s one of those deals where you always want to try to earn what you get in this league as players, as coaches, as teams. I think those guys all understand that.”
Meyers has been arguably Jacksonville's most important addition. The Jaguars are 5-1 and averaging 31.8 points — nearly 10 more a game — since acquiring him.
Meyers was scheduled to become a free agent after this season. His new deal includes $40 million guaranteed and keeps him under contract through 2028.
“The obvious connection between he and Trevor early on, you could feel that there was chemistry there and a guy that’s prepared like a true pro since he’s got here,” Coen said. “Anytime you can get guys like that, where you have continued chemistry and you feel like it gets better each week, I’m really happy for the guy.”
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